The Academy will now be rebuilt with state-of-the-art buildings, and feature unrivalled facilities fully equipped to take advantage of the latest Information and communication technologies. The building will have the Academy’s core specialisms of science and engineering at its heart, whilst meeting the wider aspiration to provide a variety of multi-functional learning spaces.

Kent County Council (KCC), the Academy and Willmott Dixon Construction, the preferred bidder for the scheme, will now submit a Financial Business Case for approval by Partnerships for Schools with a view to starting construction in April 2011. The Academy is expected to move into the new facilities in late 2012.

KCC Cabinet Member for Education, Learning & Skills Sarah Hohler said:

“This is excellent news for both the Academy and the wider community of Tunbridge Wells. These new facilities are designed to match the Academy’s vision to offer a truly 21st Century education to inspire and engage pupils and connect the local community with educational opportunities. The development will also deliver employment opportunities for the local community and support local regeneration.”

Principal Sian Carr said:

“This is a major milestone for the whole Academy community and has given everyone a sense of excitement and anticipation. Since opening as the Skinner's Kent Academy, we have already taken great strides to improve attainment and inspire pupils to meet their potential. With these new facilities we will continue our transformation and goal to become the community school of choice for generations of pupils to come.”

Following feedback from the consultation on the planning application to re-develop The Skinners’ Kent Academy, along with feedback received from the recent public exhibition on 17 November 2011, the project team have been refining the plans to take account of and respond to, where possible, local concerns.

We would like to invite you to attend a second public exhibition which will provide an update on the plans relating to:

• Transport / traffic issues;
• The development of the Academy’s energy centre; and
• Floodlighting of the Academy's outdoor sports facilities

The exhibition is being held at the Academy (address below) on 31 January 2011 from 6pm to 8.30pm.

Representatives from Willmott Dixon (the preferred bidder), Studio E Architects, Kent County Council and The Skinners' Kent Academy, alongside other specialists, will be on hand to discuss specific aspects of the proposals in detail.

We politely ask that local residents within walking distance of the Academy support the event by walking, as available parking will be limited by ongoing activities at the adjacent sports centre.

Venue: The Skinners' Kent Academy
Blackhurst Lane, Tunbridge Wells
TN2 4PY
Date: 31 January 2011
Time: 6pm – 8.30pm

The event was organised to provide an informal opportunity for local residents and the Academy community to view, comment and ask any questions in advance of the formal Planning Application which will be submitted later this month.

The £21million project, which is due to be completed in November 2012, will see the Academy rebuilt with state-of-the-art buildings and ICT facilities - a facility that will be a source of pride for students, teachers, parents and the local community.

A smaller version of the display will remain at The Skinners' Kent Academy.

Kent County Council has announced that Willmott Dixon has been selected as its preferred bidder for the £21 million development of The Skinners’ Kent Academy, Tunbridge Wells. The proposals will see the academy rebuilt with state-of-the-art buildings and ICT facilities. Willmott Dixon was one of 12 firms bidding for the contract through Partnerships for Schools’ (PfS) national Contractors’ Framework. PfS is the government's delivery agent for capital investment programmes into schools.

Construction is estimated to begin early 2011 and complete late 2012. Parents and residents will have an opportunity to view and comment on the plans at a public exhibition to be held at The Skinners’ Kent Academy on 17 November 2010.

Leader of Kent County Council Paul Carter said: “This is very welcome news for The Skinners’ Kent Academy and the local community. Willmott Dixon has a well-established reputation in the education sector and we have every confidence that their proposals not only match, but exceed the school’s vision to transform education for pupils in Tunbridge Wells.

The news also represents a timely boost for the Kent economy, particularly with Willmott Dixon’s commitment to use local suppliers where possible, source 75% of the workforce locally and provide local skills training and apprenticeship opportunities.”

Principal Sian Carr said: “This is exceptionally good news for the whole community of The Skinners’ Kent Academy. Since opening as an academy in September 2009, we have already made substantial progress in raising attainment levels - including an 88% improvement in GCSE results in 5 subjects including English & Maths - and this has been achieved in buildings that challenged rather than supported teaching and learning. The new facilities will enable the Academy to provide the highest quality 21st century education for its pupils and raise aspirations in the local community to provide educational, social and economic benefits for all.

Jonathan Payne, Deputy Managing Director, Willmott Dixon Construction (Dartford Office) said: “We are extremely delighted to have been selected as the preferred bidder for The Skinners’ Kent Academy. Both KCC and the Academy have set some very challenging targets and we have the commitment and dedication to ensure that the new buildings will be a source of pride for both The Skinners’ Kent Academy and the community of Tunbridge Wells.”

Following the excellent news that Kent County Council has selected Willmott Dixon Construction as the Preferred Bidder to build the new facilities at The Skinners’ Kent Academy, we would like to invite you to attend a public exhibition of the proposals at the Academy on 17 November 2010 (18:00 – 20:30). This will be your chance to view and comment on the plans in advance of a formal planning application. Representatives from Willmott Dixon Construction, the architects, Kent County Council and the Academy will be on hand to answer any enquiries you have.

We are very excited about the initial scheme which has been developed to engage and inspire students and connect with the local community.

All those working on the project are keen to develop a scheme that:

Sits confidently yet sensitively with the environment and enhances the standpoint of the Academy within the wider local community;
Provides a vibrant, welcoming and safe environment for both students and the community;
Provides spaces for the community use of facilities (including sports facilities); and
Uses sustainable methods of construction to reduce its environmental impact and achieve long-term economies in operation.

Your views and comments on the proposals will help us develop new facilities that we can all take pride in.

The Skinners’ Kent Academy
Public Exhibition
On
17 November 2010
6.00pm – 8.30pm
At
The Skinners' Kent Academy
Blackhurst Lane, Tunbridge Wells
Kent, TN2 4PY

The Government has announced that the Skinners’ Kent Academy’s plans for a £21million new building due to open in September 2012 have been given the full go-ahead, after a wide-ranging review of the national Academies programme.

Sian Carr, Academy Principal, commented: “We are delighted by the news received on Friday that its new build has been given the go-ahead in full by Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education.

Substantial progress has been made since the Academy opened last September. Now the confirmation of the state-of-the-art new £21 million building, due to open in September 2012, will ensure the reality of a first-class all ability community school, with a specialism in science and engineering. This is an immensely exciting project which will be a beacon of hope for all young people in and around Tunbridge Wells.”

Following an initial consultation exercise involving nine building groups, The Skinners’ Kent Academy announces that it is now actively working with two consortia - led by Willmott Dixon Construction and Bovis Lend Lease - for the right to implement its ambitious plans for a £21.7 million state-of-the-art brand new building scheme.

Over the next few months the Academy team, led by Academy Principal Sian Carr and Vice-Principal, Business and Projects, Richard Powell, will be working hard with both teams to pull together prospective designs and plans. At the end of this phase, the competing designs will be carefully evaluated and the winner announced by mid-October.

Academy co-sponsors KCC, who have been at the centre of the process since inception, will then drive the project forwards towards the building being completed by September 2012.

Sian Carr, Academy Principal, commented: ”We are delighted with the progress that has been made to date and are really looking forward to delivering a wonderful new facility to our current and future students. It’s a very ambitious project but one which, with KCC’s continued support, we are confident of delivering on time and to budget.”

Richard Powell added: “Early indications have shown some truly excellent and exciting ideas and concepts emerging from both parties. This project represents a wonderful opportunity for both our own and local students to get involved in this fantastic addition to the educational facilities currently enjoyed by the Tunbridge Wells community. It also represents a truly unique learning experience in terms of student involvement in all aspects of the design and eventual construction of the facilities, and we look forward to really maximising the potential of this aspect over the months ahead.“