ESC TO HOLD OPEN DAY AT PADDINGTON SITE
Opportunity to view development of new Academy
Friday 9th December 2005/.... The Paddington Academy, the new school currently being built under the Government's Academies programme with the financial support of the interactive entertainment industry, is to hold an open day on Thursday 14th December 2005.
Work on the Academy began on 19th January this year when the school received £1.5 million in funding from the Entertainment Software Charity, the games industry's charitable fund, to help build a new Academy in West London.
The Academy's Principal, Barbi Goulding, will welcome guests to the site before conducting a tour and presentation.
"The games industry is helping to create a brilliant new learning centre for inner city children and this is a great opportunity to see the practical results of its support," said Mark Strachan, CEO of the Entertainment Software Charity.
Paddington Academy, Marylands Road site, London W9 will be open from 9.30 - 11.00am on 14th December 2005. Those wishing to take part in the tour should confirm their attendance to Mark Strachan at mark@strachans.org
The Academy is due to officially open in September 2006 and will be run and managed by the United Learning Trust.
EDITORS NOTES
1. Academies are all-ability inclusive schools. Like all other mainstream schools, they will be expected to admit pupils with special education needs and disabilities as appropriate. They are free of charge to all students and open to students of all faiths and none.
2. Paddington Academy will open to 1,175 students in September 2006.
3. Paddington Academy has been made possible by financial support from the Entertainment Software Charity. It is being sponsored by the United Church Schools Trust and operated by its subsidiary, the United Learning Trust. All are registered charities.
4. ULT is sponsoring Academies across the country including Manchester Academy (opened September 2003), Lambeth Academy, Northampton Academy (both opened September 2004), Salford Academy (opening September 2005) and Barnsley Academy (opening September 2006).
5. Further information on Paddington Academy is available from Justin McLaren.
About the entertainment software charity
The entertainment software charity is the official charity of the UK games industry. Founded in 2000, the esc was created to use the popularity of gaming to help give back to those less fortunate. The not-for-profit charity was established by prominent members of the gaming community to create a dedicated initiative to advance young people through play, training and education.
The esc works with hardware vendors, developers, software publishers, magazine publishers, retailers, distributors and logistics providers, all of whom give their time, input, resources and intellectual properties to help support charities committed to improving the future of young people.
For further information please contact:
KATHRYN HUMPHREY
BARRINGTON HARVEY
Tel: 01462 456780
Fax: 01462 456781
Email: kathryn@bhpr.co.uk
MARK STRACHAN
ESC
Tel: 01458 270204
Email: mark@strachans.org
Issued by: Barrington Harvey, Trooper's Yard, Bancroft, Hitchin SG5 1JW