St Michael’s Church of England Academy, which is part of the Learning Academy Partnership and will open to Nursery and Reception pupils in September 2021, welcomed local MP Kevin Foster to the site on Friday, 18th December 2020.
Mr Foster, MP for Torbay constituency, met with Mrs Edwards, the newly appointed Head of St Michael’s Church of England Academy, Mrs Atkinson, Chief Executive of the Learning Academy Partnership and Mrs Barnett, Chief Operating Officer of the Learning Academy Partnership.
Mr Foster had a chance to look around the site and learn about the new academy, set to open in Paignton, which will be the Learning Academy Partnership’s tenth school. Previously the site housed the old Tower House School and is currently being refurbished by construction partner Midas Construction, who are doing a brilliant job in restoring some of the beautiful period features of the old building.
St Michael’s Church of England Academy will welcome reception and nursery age pupils to fulfil the need for more school places in Paignton, which is part of Mr Foster’s constituency. The visit was an opportunity to show the amazing potential of the building with the amount of space it will offer for both educational and community purposes, as well as the high quality provision the new academy will give to families.
Incoming Head Mrs Edwards is currently the Head of All Saints Marsh Church of England Academy, another of the Trust’s schools, and will bring over 20 years teaching experience to St Michael’s, as well as expertise as an Early Years Specialist Leader in Education, having supported Early Years provision in schools and nurseries across the South West.
Meanwhile, the Learning Academy Partnership is one of the leading Multi Academy Trusts in the South West and is rated the best academy Trust in the country for the performance of disadvantaged children and in the Top 10 Trusts nationally for the progress that children make. St Michael’s will become part of the family of schools which benefit from best practice sharing, and a strong central leadership team which support all the schools.
Mrs Edwards, the newly appointed Head of St Michael’s Church of England Academy, said:
“We are delighted to have been able to welcome Mr Foster to St Michael’s, and to demonstrate to him all the brilliant hard work that is taking place in preparation for the new school. We are looking forward to welcoming him back when the academy is open to pupils, so that he can see what it has all been working towards!”
Mrs Atkinson, Chief Executive of Learning Academy Partnership, said:
“We are very pleased to have had the opportunity to show Mr Foster around the new site and talk to him about all of the exciting plans in place for the academy.
“St Michael’s will benefit children and families across Mr Foster’s constituency and will be supported by the excellence of schools across our Trust. The Learning Academy Partnership brings with it a wealth of local knowledge and expertise, and we are excited to become a part of the community here in Paignton.”