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.”