Archbishop of York launches £33m ‘academy of dreams’

THE Archbishop of York has officially opened a new school that bears his name – and urged its pupils to turn it into an academy of dreams.

Dr John Sentamu opened Archbishop Sentamu Academy in Hull yesterday, a Church of England-sponsored school that is transforming aspirations in one of the city’s most deprived neighbourhoods.

The £33m, four-storey building, opened its doors to pupils last month and is the third to be completed under the city’s £380m Building Schools for the Future programme.

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In an impassioned speech to civic and community leaders and pupils in its 300-seat theatre, the Archbishop said: “I pray hard that it will transform the lives of those who study and learn here. It’s part of the great development of education to which the city of Hull is committed. And I pray for you all to have the courage to make your dreams come true. It’s all about making a dream become a reality.”

The 1,350 capacity school has more than 1,200 pupils on its roll and boasts a wide range of facilities including a cyber cafe, a dance studio, gym, and a vehicle engineering room based on a mechanic’s garage with a car lift.

Academy principal Andrew Chubb said: “We are immensely proud. He’s a wonderful patron, he gives very generously of his time.”