His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent was there to do the honours. The Duke described the academy as “most impressive” and said it was a place of learning that “should have a hugely beneficial impact on young lives”.

The academy is one of two nationwide to be sponsored by Edge. The school echoes our vision of an education system to suit the talents of all young people and aims to better serve Britain by producing the skills employers need. By investing in the young people of Milton Keynes through this Academy, we’re putting our ideas into practice.

The school plans to put ‘learning by doing’ at the forefront of the curriculum, but not at the expense of academic achievement. At Edge, we believe that there should be excellent vocational and academic courses and that students should be offered many paths to success, which is why we’re excited and pleased to play a part in this fantastic new academy.

The Milton Keynes Academy isn’t the only school we’re getting behind. We’re proud to be a sponsor of another academy in Bulwell, Nottingham, and we’re also a major sponsor for the Madeley Academy in Shropshire, which is one of the most improved schools in the country. We’ve pledged to work with local communities to ensure that all young people are given the excellent education they deserve. Below are the promises Edge have committed to:

The Edge Academies Promise

• Edge Academies will ensure students have regular access to real businesses.
• Edge Academy students will spend regular time dedicated to ‘learning by doing’ on real world projects.
• Edge Academies will ensure vocational learning forms part of every student’s curriculum time.
• Edge Academy students will take part in enterprise activities every week.
• Edge Academies will assess students on the basis of all their talents and abilities, looking beyond formal examinations.
• Edge Academy students will be able to choose an education pathway that suits them at 14 – and offered flexible ways to pursue their goals.

Learn more about the new Milton Keynes Academy here >