President of Honda Motor Europe officially opens Swindon Academy
2 July 2010
Swindon Academy was officially opened today by Mr Shigeru Takagi, Senior Managing Director of Honda Motor and President of Honda Motor Europe.
Academy Principal Ms Jan Shadick gave Mr Takagi and Baroness Greenfield a tour of the academy’s state-of-the-art building where they visited a variety of lessons including Science, Art and Humanities subjects and met students and staff. After the tour, two separate ceremonies were held so that students of all ages could participate in the special day.
During the ceremonies, students gave a gym and dance performance and sang the school song, and Mr Takagi unveiled a plaque to commemorate the occasion. A specially built clock was also revealed, which was a joint design project between the engineering students and a Honda design team. This was followed by an inaugural science address given by the Rt Hon Baroness Greenfield CBE to reflect the academy’s science specialism. Following the ceremonies, Baroness Greenfield led a science workshop where she answered questions from budding science students at the academy.
The new building includes specialist ICT teaching spaces fully-equipped with the latest technology, performing arts suites, a recording studio and an all-weather sports pitch. The building accommodates all academy students – from Reception through to Year 13 – so they can all take advantage of the state-of-the-art facilities.
Academy Principal, Ms Jan Shadick, said: “We were thrilled that Mr Takagi, Baroness Greenfield and members of our local community could share such an important day with us. We have a strong and flourishing partnership with Honda and today gave us a chance to demonstrate how this partnership is enhancing the opportunities we offer our students. All the students have had a brilliant day.”
Sir Ewan Harper CBE, Chief Executive of the United Learning Trust (ULT), said: “It has been a great privilege that Mr Takagi and Baroness Greenfield have joined us to celebrate the opening of Swindon Academy’s new building. We are sorry that Sir Anthony Greener cannot be with us. We experienced the strength of Honda's strapline 'The Power of Dreams' when the world's most advanced human robot, ASIMO, was flown specially in from Belgium to demonstrate to us all just where creative thinking, design and engineering could take a major global company.”
Mike Godfrey, Senior Manager and Chief Engineer at Honda of the UK Manufacturing Ltd, and vice-chair of the Swindon Academy board of governors comments: “As a major employer in the Swindon area we are very pleased to be able to support our local community through such worthwhile causes as the Swindon Academy. We have developed a very successful relationship with the staff and students over the last few years, and it’s wonderful to see the academy move on to its next chapter with the opening of this incredible new building.”
