Medway's

Medway's first academy is open and the students are already hard at work.

Strood Academy welcomed year seven and sixth formers yesterday, Tuesday, and the rest of the students were arriving today.

The academy has been formed from the merger of Chapter and Temple schools and will be the first of three in Medway.

Lead sponsor the University for the Creative Arts and co-sponsor Medway Council will be working with the Department for Children, Schools and Families to provide new buildings on the site by 2011/2012.

Academy principal Richard Hart said: "We are delighted to be able to open the Strood Academy and to welcome our first cohort of students."

It has also been announced that TV personality Loyd Grossman, chairman of UCA's governors, will offically open the new academy on Thursday, October 1.

Full story and more pictures in Friday's Medway Messenger