£22m JCB Academy gets royal opening
Engineering students in Derbyshire and Staffordshire are set to benefit from a new £22m academy constructed on behalf of Rocester-based digger giant JCB. The building was officially opened by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, who described the site as “remarkable”.
The academy, which will have its core focus on engineering, is the first of its kind in the UK.
During his visit to the site, the Prince of Wales made a short speech to staff and students. He said: "It seems to me that it is absolutely crucial to have this element of training, apprenticeship and vocational study.
"I think this academy and others, I hope, like it, will make an enormous difference to this country's future... particularly because of the need to establish and develop, rapidly, a low-carbon economy."
About 170 students began studying in the academy last September. Eventually, the site will cater for 540 pupils aged 14 to 19.
