Opening Ceremony 2nd July 2010

Friday 2^nd July saw the Swindon Academy celebrating the official opening of it’s new building by a spectacular Opening Ceremony.   VIP’s and guests were invited to attend this special day and share the performances with students and staff. Special guests included Mr Takagi, Senior Managing Director of Honda Motor Company and President of Honda Motors Europe.  Baroness Greenfield, Professor of Pharmacology at Oxford University, Mr Ken Keir, Executive Vice President of Honda Motor Europe, the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire and the Mayor and Mayoress of Swindon.

Two Opening Ceremonies were held during the day, the first ceremony was for students in years 2 – 6.  Students from the Alton Close site were brought down to the Beech Avenue site to be part of the celebrations.  What an amazing show they saw!  Students delivered a superb vaulting performance, which they had choreographed themselves.  They performed with incredibly energy, enthusiasm and accuracy.  Gasps from the staff, guests and students could be heard as the vaulters wowed everyone with their skills.

Next there was a wonderful rhythmic gymnastics display where the girls beautifully displayed their skills with ribbons, balls and hoops.  This Olympic sport has become very popular in PE and everyone was entertained by their demonstration of their flexibility, rhythm and gymnastic abilities.  

Finally the GCSE dance troop, led by Sixth Former Sam Williams, performed a wonderful burlesque style dance, equipped with black hats and white gloves.  The performance was seamless and will no doubt have stimulated lots of interest in dancing across pupils of all ages. The occasion was also the platform for the first performance of the Swindon Academy song. 

Teachers and students performed the new song, Fire of Inspiration, along with all the primary students who had spent weeks learning it. However, the event was not over yet!!! 

The special guest of honour was Asimo, the humanoid robot who appears in Honda’s television adverts.  It was incredibly exciting and emotional to see Asimo display his skills, carrying a tray of drinks, shaking hands, running around the stage and climbing stairways.  Students said “he is so human, it’s like he is really a little boy!” he was cheered, applauded and loved by all – this moment will be remembered very fondly by all the students.

 Mr Takagi and Sir Ewan Harper, Chief Executive of Swindon Academy’s sponsor ULT, revealed the official opening ceremony plaque whilst Baroness Greenfield cut the ribbon. At the event a special clock designed by students and Honda engineers and built by Honda was unveiled by Asimo.  This clock is representative of the excellent partnership between Honda and Swindon Academy.