Bishop lays stone at namesake Academy

THE BISHOP OF WINCHESTER has today laid a foundation stone at the Church of England Academy which bears his name.

The Rt Revd Tim Dakin attended The Bishop of Winchester Academy in Bournemouth to ceremonially mark the commencement of new buildings set for completion by spring 2014.

The project follows a £14.5 million investment in rebuilding much of the existing site, to help meet the increasing demand for places at the highly successful and popular Bishop of Winchester Academy. The new development will also satisfy parental demand for sixth form provision, with the first sixth-form pupils set to start in September 2014.

Bishop Tim led a service, assisted by Academy Chaplain, Reverend Jenny Nightingale, before meeting with students to discuss their hopes and aspirations for their time at the Academy and beyond.

Significant step forward

Bishop Tim said “It was a great privilege to lay the foundation stone for these buildings, which represent a significant step forward in the life of the Bishop of Winchester Academy.”

“Education is a vital part of the mission of the Diocese and of the wider Church of England, and schools are a key element in the building of communities.’

“It is a testament to the hard work of the staff and pupils at ‘TBOWA’ that the demand exists for such encouraging growth, and I wish them every blessing in the years ahead.”

Prior to laying the stone, Bishop Tim presented Headteacher, Paul McKeown, with another stone from the grounds of Wolvesey Castle (the historic home of the Bishop of Winchester). Addressing the whole school, the Bishop said that his support for and patronage of the school “could only be built on a fully Christian foundation.”

“Education is a vital part of Christian mission in so far as it is based on the foundation of Christ, the risen Lord,” he said.

Relentless pursuit of excellence

Meanwhile, Academy Principal, Paul McKeown said that the Bishop of Winchester Academy was proud to provide young people in Bournemouth with a great education within a Christian context.

"We offer students the opportunity to raise their aspirations and realise their God-given talents through an education that recognises the uniqueness of every individual.

The Academy is hugely oversubscribed in all year groups which is testimony to the relentless pursuit of excellence insisted upon by all staff.