Lord Nash visits KAA

by Vashti Turner  on June 8, 2016  in  Academy News Entrepreneurship

On Thursday 26th May Kensington Aldridge Academy was visited by Lord Nash. The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools toured the academy with Sir Rod Aldridge, Chairman of the Aldridge Foundation, Beki Martin, CEO of the Aldridge Foundation, Councillor Emma Wills, Cabinet Member for Education at RBKC, and our Principal David Benson.

Lord Nash visited the Kensington Creates pods, the unique business incubator situated in the atrium of the school, as well as visiting lessons including teamwork sessions designed to develop entrepreneurial skills. The visit concluded with a student panel made up of founder KAA students which allowed them to ask Lord Nash questions about business and academies.

Entrepreneurship is at the heart of all Aldridge Foundation academies and colleges, and at Kensington Aldridge Academy we want to develop the business and social entrepreneurs of the future. At KAA we do this through the Kensington Creates centre, designed to help our students and local community develop practical entrepreneurial skills, through excellent academic qualifications including subjects linked to new technology and industry such as maths, science, computer science and product design, as well as subjects that teach students to be effective communicators such as English, history, geography and languages, through an entrepreneurial, can-do spirit encapsulated by our school motto – Intrepidus – and by providing our students with entrepreneurial experiences such as Kensington Creates Days and Creates Clubs throughout their time at the academy.

Lord Nash said that “Kensington Creates is clearly helping to inspire the students as well as being extremely beneficial to entrepreneurs” and that “Kensington Aldridge Academy is a clear example of how linking business with education can drive aspiration.” He added that “it was excellent to hear the students speak so enthusiastically about their school and the opportunities they have.”