The concept of a new academy school in Camden sponsored by UCL was first announced by Malcolm Grant, the UCL Provost, in November 2007.[2]
On 6 August 2010 Education SecretaryMichael Gove announced that the academy would receive a requested £30 million capital allocation and would therefore proceed.[3][4] It was revealed on 9 September 2010 that the opening of the academy had been delayed for one year due to the lack of funds. However, the academy went on to open in September 2012.[5]
The academy admitted its first pupils in September 2012.[6]
The school operates under a Interim Principal model.[7] Its Interim Principal is Mrs
Pomphrey
Building
The academy is housed in new, purpose-built accommodations located on Adelaide Road.[8] Facilities in the new accommodation include:
suites of rooms for cross-curricular general learning called Superstudios;
suites of rooms for art, music and drama, including performance spaces;
science laboratories, and a science demonstration theatre for lectures, experiments and talks by visiting academics from UCL;
an engineering science suite, including workshops and technology and science labs;
House areas, providing places for students to eat together, and for informal study during breaks and before and after school.[8]
Plans for the new building received planning permission in August 2010.[9]
Curriculum
The academy is a unique "STEAM" specialist school and Mandarin is taught.[10][11] The STEAM specialism consists of the following subject areas: