This morning, I was honoured to attend the official opening service and ceremony of the Kings Priory School in Tynemouth. As I’m sure regular Coffee House readers are aware, I’ve followed the creation of this academy in my home region with much interest. Despite Labour’s initial plans to sabotage the merger of the private King’s School and the state Priory Primary School, the new institution finally opened its door six week ago.
It’s a fantastic addition to one of the country’s poorest boroughs. Who better to open this school than Andrew Adonis, the man responsible for rejuvenating Kenneth Baker’s academies policy? At the ceremony today, Adonis explained to pupils how they are on the threshold of a ‘new and bold chapter’ for the area:
‘It is a brilliant opportunity for Tynemouth in the creation of this institution. It’s brilliant in the sense of offering opportunities for Tynemouth – a fantastic private school which has now dropped its fees.
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