Royal visit at KAA

by Vashti Turner  on January 12, 2015  in  Academy News Sponsor Uncategorized

Kensington Aldridge Academy are pleased to announce that Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge is to attend the official opening of the school on Monday 19th January.

The Duchess will meet students, staff, governors and partners during a tour of the academy on this very exciting occasion. She will join some lessons, spend some time with students in the library and talk to the young entrepreneurs working in the Kensington Creates hub. Our staff and students will have a wonderful opportunity to showcase the quality of learning and incredible creativity that takes place every day in our amazing facilities. The royal visit will culminate in the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the formal opening of KAA.

The Duchess is also scheduled to open the neighbouring Kensington Leisure Centre, which replaces the former building where her husband Prince William and brother-in-law Prince Harry had swimming lessons at school. Once open in March 2015 Kensington Leisure Centre will host swimming lessons for our own KAA students.

Principal David Benson said of the event:

“We are thrilled that Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge will be visiting next week to officially open the school. Here at KAA we are providing much needed new secondary school places to our community, and are proud of the start we have made. Over 600 applications for next year reflects our growing reputation. Next week’s royal visit is an important chapter in the history of our new school. Needless to say we are all very excited!” 

Sir Rod Aldridge, founder of the academy’s lead sponsor the Aldridge Foundation, said:

“We had a rare opportunity to work with the Royal Borough to create a new, exceptional academy to join our and the Council’s respective families of schools. We planned for an academy that would deliver the highest standards of attainment, building on success already achieved in neighbouring primary schools. I am confident that KAA will make a real difference to our students and to the local community it serves.” 

“The Duchess, together with Prince William, opened our first academy in Darwen (Lancashire) in 2011, in what was one of the last official engagements they carried out before their wedding. We are thrilled that Her Royal Highness will be opening this wonderful new school in Kensington this month.”