Shenley Academy Opening Event

On the evening of Tuesday 30^th October, the team from our office, (and my family), attended the official opening of our newly completed Shenley Academy, Birmingham.

With specialisms in Science and the Performing Arts and catering for 1100 pupils it had opened for the start of term in September, after an eighteen month construction period.

The building looked resplendent as we crossed the grounds to the main entrance, the oranges and yellows on the façade picked out by the external lights. We made our way into the main entrance foyer where a host of guests, staff and pupils were gathered. Almost immediately the Academy Choir began singing from the first floor gallery, as we looked up and enjoyed the show.

A number of speeches were then made, starting with Ruth Harker, Principal who personally thanked Edward Cullinan Architects for their all their hard work on the project and stressed how overjoyed they are with the new building.

Chris York, Chair of Governors at Shenley Academy followed by Sir Bruce Liddington, Director General of E-ACT then made short speeches that reinforced this message and also impressed upon those gathered how the excellent Shenley Academy staff team will now use this building to sustain and build upon their already impressive teaching record. The building was then officially opened by Councillor John Lines, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham.

All guests were then taken on a guided tour of the building that showcased in particular the Performing Arts. We saw street dance in the Dance Studio performed by Antics, former pupils, and workshops with Birmingham Rep theatre in the Performing Arts Studio. The highlight for me was a specially commissioned piece in the main theatre and involving a group of students from Key Stage 4 and the Sixth Form. They had worked with ‘Upswing’ on an acrobatic dance piece called ‘Spark’, inspired by their logo, which involved some of the dancers suspended on wires from the theatre soffit.

The evening finished in the dining room where the builders, Lend Lease, staff, sponsors and us all enjoyed a buffet dinner.

The original school is currently being demolished, to be replaced with a new landscape. This will be completed next summer when we will make a return visit for the full opening of the site.

Photos © Simon Warren