Two pupils from Dartmouth Academy have raised a tree to the top of an iconic school building to celebrate construction reaching its highest point, as part of a traditional topping out ceremony.
Rhiannon Healey and Merlin Headington were joined by Dartmouth Mayor Councillor Paul Allen, Bryan Carson, Chairman of South Hams District Council, Academy Principal Nick Hindmarsh and Rob Bradley, Managing Director of Leadbitter and Bouygues UK’s Western team, which is constructing the new school building.
Open since September 2010, Dartmouth Academy is one of a small number of ‘All Through’ schools offering education for learners of all ages. The project involves construction of the state of the art new school building, designed specifically for all through learning, which will open in March 2014. Leadbitter, a Bouygues UK company, expects to complete the remaining construction work by summer 2014.
Nick Hindmarsh said: “We are all very excited by the progress of the rebuild. Watching the new buildings take shape is a wonderful inspiration for the children and staff here at the Academy, and as the day we move in gets closer the excitement is growing! It is fantastic to mark reaching the highest point on the build and the two children chosen to raise the tree to the roof epitomise the spirit of our improving Academy. Rhiannon and Merlin both applied themselves excellently during their work experience with Leadbitter last term, pushing themselves to achieve more and succeeding in so many ways.”
When finished, the new Academy buildings will feature the best educational technology, extensive renewable energy systems, which will sometimes generate more energy than the school needs, and a multi-functional school and commercial restaurant, designed with the help of Dartmouth’s award-winning restaurateur Mitch Tonks.
Rob Bradley said: “The topping out marks an important milestone in construction, which is progressing very well. The design of the new building will create a modern, vibrant learning environment for children for many years to come.”
