Lord Adonis to open Midhurst Rother College

LORD Andrew Adonis, who championed the advent of academies across the country is to perform the official opening ceremony of the new £31m state-of-the-art Midhurst Rother College building.

Lord Adonis was a great supporter of the setting up of academies during his time as minister for schools from May, 2005, to October, 2008.

His latest book Education, Education, Education has recently been published by Biteback.

The opening ceremony of the new school will take place on Friday, April 19, when some 200 guests will be welcomed by students and staff at the college.

The extensive programme of events is being organised which will be streamed live on video between two venues on the school site, with performances in drama, music, poetry and gymnastics.

Also present at the official opening ceremony will be the chairman of the United Learning Academies, Ed Gould and group chief executive of United Learning, Jon Coles.

There was huge controversy when plans to turn the former Midhurst Grammar School into an academy were announced in 2008.

The new academy, sponsored by United Learning, formerly known as the United Learning Trust, was opened in the old grammar school buildings in January, 2010.

Meanwhile, work took place to build the new school on the same site and pupils moved in for the start of the new school year last September.