MIDDLESBROUGH
Waving the flag – Discovery Special Academy pupils welcome Lord Lieutenant Jo Ropner and Bill Scott OBE DL, pictured with Tees Valley Education CEO Katrina Morley OBE.
Lord Lieutenant’ s official opening of Teesside’ s new special academy
‘ Beacon of hope '
The Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire described Discovery Special Academy in Middlesbrough as“ a real beacon of hope” after officially opening Teesside’ s new primary and secondary facility for children and young people with complex needs.
Representatives of Discovery Special Academy and four of its fellow schools within Tees Valley Education Trust attended a special assembly to see Lord Lieutenant Jo Ropner – His Majesty King Charles’ personal representative for the region – unveil a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion.
Following the addition of a 70-place secondary extension in 2024, the £ 17m academy on Sandy Flatts Lane, alongside the former site of Nature’ s World, now provides high-quality education and therapeutic support to 172 children, aged three to 16, with a range of complex needs from across the region.
The Lord Lieutenant and her Deputy Lieutenant Bill Scott OBE – CEO of Teesside firm Wilton Engineering – were welcomed to Discovery by the academy’ s leadership team, teachers, pupils and guests including those who had helped make the school a reality.
Having heard how collaboration between the local authorities of Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland, together with the Department for Education and a range of local businesses, played a crucial role in helping the trust staff deliver a state-of-theart facility, the Lord Lieutenant said:“ A huge shout-out to all of them.
“ It’ s wonderful that they all worked together to make the vision a reality and really make something incredible happen. This project represents their perseverance
Forged out of care and courage – students at Middlesbrough’ s Discovery Special Academy.
and resilience.
“ We must recognise wins like this because places like Discovery Special Academy are real beacons of hope.”
Students Kiki, Izack and Amber helped the Lord Lieutenant plant a commemorative rose bush to mark the official opening of Discovery Special Academy.
She added that that the“ outstanding inclusive practice” would act as a“ springboard” for students in equipping them with“ the tools to go on into life.”
Deputy Lieutenant Bill Scott – voted by his peers as the region’ s most inspiring business leader for the past two years- added:“ I find it strange that this kind of facility wasn’ t done sooner, as it asks the question:‘ What happened to local children with complex needs before Discovery?’ The answer is that many went to school out of area, but it’ s so important they have somewhere local to come along to where they can be safe, cared for and learn.
“ They can stay here from primary school all the way through secondary school and the staff can get as many as possible to be match-fit to go to work – it’ s about inspiring hope towards that end goal.”
Collaborations with Portakabin,
Consortium Procurement Construction( CPC), Middlesbrough Council, the Department for Education and other stakeholders played a crucial role in delivering a state-of-the-art facility that meets the growing demands of the academy community.
Jennifer Duncan, deputy CEO of Tees Valley Education and executive head teacher of Discovery Special Academy, described the official opening as a“ truly special occasion; a proud and joyful moment”.
“ Today is about more than the unveiling of our purpose-built specialist setting,” she said.
“ It represents something truly and deeply meaningful. This building and these spaces have been thoughtfully designed to provide not only education but care, support and opportunity.”
Addressing the assembled students, Tees Valley Education CEO Katrina Morley OBE told them:“ It’ s quite difficult to put into words what today truly means – to know that the staff have put so much of their heart into this, to know as a team, with our shared vision and relentless belief and deep commitment to all of you, we made a promise that we would have a school that you could be proud of.
“ But Discovery isn’ t just a school, it’ s a family, it’ s a statement, it’ s a community – and we believe that all of you are so special that we should celebrate you. This school is truly forged out of care and courage.”
Along with Discovery Special Academy, schools within Tees Valley Education also include Brambles, Dormanstown, Pennyman and Wilton primary academies.
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