London & South East

Hampton Academy: Improving education

Formerly known as Hampton Community College, Hampton Academy is a £15 million learning facility, which has been designed to provide a hub for the local community.

The Academy – located in Hampton in the London Borough of Richmond – is currently undergoing an extensive makeover which has included work on the lower and upper colleges.

Work on the lower colleges is now complete – with the Academy officially opening in November 2012 – whilst the campus’ sixth form block will open in September 2013. When complete, the sixth form block will cater for 75 students who already attend the Academy, or students who are joining from another school.

Hampton Academy is one of the first academies to be opened in the UK under the sponsorship of the Learning Schools Trust, the English arm of Swedish education provider Kunskappskolan. The Academy is built around the principle that all young people can learn through a more personalised approach to learning.

Commenting on the project, Hampton Academy Principal, Dr Sue Demont, said:

“Our new building will continue the transformation of learning and achievement we are undertaking as a Learning Schools Trust Academy. I would like to thank everyone from outside the school who has been involved in Hampton Academy’s journey.”

The Hampton Academy campus is a welcoming and inclusive educational centre and community hub. The new Academy replaces Hampton Community College and comprises a mix of 60% new build and 40% refurbishment. During the course of the project, the site’s existing Learning Resources Centre was sympathetically remodelled and a number of existing structures were given a makeover.

Whilst work took place on the project the campus remained open, so the programme was divided into detailed phases in order to facilitate the operational needs of the site. The phased programme of works also reduced spending on temporary facilities, allowing funds to be spent on the long term educational needs of the campus.

Leadbitter is the main contractor on the Hampton Academy project, whilst AStudio is providing all architectural services. Hoare Lea is the sustainability consultant and AKT11 is the structural consultant on the project.

Hampton Academy is one of two projects being delivered by Leadbitter on behalf of the London Borough of Richmond, with the £20 million Twickenham Academy being the other. The projects were secured under the Partnerships for Schools (Pfs) Contractors’ Framework.

Commenting on Hampton Academy, Cliff Kinch of Leadbitter, said:

“This project is of great importance to the Academy and the community. Our project team is using all of Leadbitter’s considerable expertise in constructing educational facilities to deliver a state-of-the-art Academy. We are working closely with the Academy staff and students to turn the live construction into the learning tool that supports their curriculum.”

Hampton Academy is a mixed school, admitting girls and boys of all backgrounds and abilities. The Academy follows the principle that all people are different and learn in different ways, so it is the Academy’s task to meet the challenge of providing the correct educational needs for each student.

Hampton Academy strives to prepare each student to live and work in the modern world and it is this ‘education for life’ ethos, which is at the heart of all its strategies. For further information about Hampton Academy, please visit: www.hamptonacademy.org.uk.

Rung Heating Supplies Ltd

Rung Heating Supplies Ltd specialise in the supply and installation of chimney and exhaust systems, including boiler flu systems, CHP exhausts and diesel exhausts. In addition, the company also provides designs for steel work structures when required.

Rung Heating Supplies Ltd has been in operation since 1968 and within this time has worked on a range of projects, including Mount Vernon Hospital, 375 Kensington High Street, Reading University and of course Hampton Academy. Working on Hampton Academy, Rung Heating Supplies installed new chimney systems to an existing flu.

Rung Heating Supplies Ltd Company Director, Ian Keylock, said:

“At Rung Heating Supplies Ltd we are proud of the fact that we run a very successful business that continues to meet client expectations.

“We have a great team at Rung Heating Supplies Ltd; we always aim to deliver a high quality finish with all of our work and we provide our customers with a good, professional service.”

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Roma Publications