3 September 2009
The City Academy, Hackney opens and welcomes its first Year
Seven students
The City Academy, Hackney welcomed its first 220 Year Seven
students today (Thursday 3 September 2009) marking a significant
milestone in the growth of Academies in the borough and the drive
to raise standards in secondary schools.
Sponsored by KPMG and the City of London Corporation it
represents a major and continuing investment in young people and
strengthens the links with the City – providing many opportunities
for future generations to achieve success in the wider world of
work.
Both sponsors have been working with schools for many years,
often involving staff volunteering their time. This is the third
Academy to be supported by the City of London, joining others
already open in Southwark and Islington.
Specialising in business and finance, the Academy will adopt a
blend of tradition and innovation. Its new building in the centre
of Homerton, in Hackney, has many sustainable features and students
from local primary schools and Hackney Community College have been
involved in developing ideas in collaboration with the architects
Studio E and the Sorrell Foundation.
The Principal, Mark Emmerson says:
“This is an exciting moment for the area and we believe we can
make a huge difference to raising levels of achievement and lifting
the horizons of young people. We will promote the same professional
standards for all our students. They will wear a distinctive
uniform and be expected to conduct and apply themselves in ways
that will be a credit to the Academy.”
Catherine McGuinness, Chair of Governors, and representing the
City of London Corporation, says:
“We believe that every child should have the chance to succeed
and the Academy will open up many new and exciting opportunities
for young people in the area. The City of London is committed to
making a huge difference through its sponsorship.”
Richard Reid, London Chairman of KPMG says:
“We are delighted that the Academy in Hackney has now opened to
the local community. KPMG has strong links with education and
supports a number of schools across the UK with many staff giving
their time. This ranges from, supporting children with literacy and
numeracy in primary schools, supporting work related learning and
sharing leadership skills through School Governorships. The
City Academy Hackney takes our links with education to a new level
and is the biggest single investment we have made in the future of
young people. We are committed to its long term success.”
Ends
Notes for editors
KPMG LLP, a UK limited liability partnership, is a subsidiary of
KPMG Europe LLP and operates from 22 offices across the UK with
11,500 partners and staff. The UK firm recorded a turnover of
€2.2 billion in the year ended September 2008. KPMG is a global
network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax, and Advisory
services. We operate in 148 countries and have more than 113,000
professionals working in member firms around the world. The
independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with
KPMG International, a Swiss cooperative. KPMG International
provides no client services.
The City of London Corporation is a uniquely diverse
organisation. It supports and promotes the City as the world leader
in international finance and business services and provides local
services and policing for those working in, living in and visiting
the Square Mile. It also provides valued services to London and the
nation. These include the Barbican Centre and the Guildhall School
of Music & Drama; the Guildhall Library and Art Gallery and
London Metropolitan Archive; a range of education provision
(including three City Academies); five Thames bridges (including
Tower Bridge and the Millennium Bridge); the Central Criminal Court
at Old Bailey; over 10,000 acres of open spaces (including
Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest), and three wholesale food
markets. It is also London’s Port Health Authority and runs the
Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow. It works in partnership with
neighbouring boroughs on the regeneration of surrounding areas and
the City Bridge Trust, which it oversees, donates more than £15m to
charity annually.