New Darwen Academy 'will inspire pupils' (From This Is Lancashire)

New Darwen Academy 'will inspire pupils'

10:30am Friday 3rd September 2010 in

More stories about: Darwen Academy

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DARWEN pupils ‘can't fail to be inspired’ by the ‘phemonemenal’ new Darwen Academy, according to bosses.

Hundreds of pupils will today attend an induction with their parents to explore for the first time the £48million Darwen Community Community Academy (DACA) building in Redearth Road.

Almost 1,000 computers are being set up ahead of the first full school week, beginning on Monday, and builders are putting the final touches on the ‘industrial’ decor.

“I’ve been in education for 20 years and I’ve never seen anything like this in my life”, said premises manager Simon Gostling.

“When I walk into the drama theatre, I’m never failed to be gobsmacked. It’s a ‘wow’ space.

“The top-class equipment here rivals any purpose-built facilities in the area.”

Each of the four floors is colour-coded to help staff, students and visitors find their way around easily, and huge glass windows from floor to ceiling show sights of Darwen from angles never previously seen.

Every classroom contains interactive projectors for whiteboards and science labs have high-tech safety features to switch off the gas immediately in case of any accidents.

In months to come, media studies classrooms will become the first in the area to be installed with special ‘green wall’ technology which will allow Hollywood-style post-production.

Yesterday, benefactor Rod Aldridge unveiled a new ‘inspirational’ statue of Pegasus by local artist Tom Hill made of white horseshoes in the main atrium.# Mr Aldridge, who founded outsourcing company Capita, said: “I feel quite emotional, actually.

“It’s been a long journey since 2004, but at no point did I believe that this would not happen because we were so determined.

“The building is a phenomenal asset to Darwen.

“I want to thank the community for the way they’ve accommodated the construction and I hope they feel it’s worth it because we fundamentally believe this is a community asset, and this is very much our way of reaching out to them.

“I hope the community will use our facilities and new business will group up in the surrounding area.”

Headteacher Brendan Loughran said: “It’s really pleasing to see how positive the staff and visitors have been with the new facility and they can’t fail to be inspired by the new facilities.”