The Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham, MP Andy Slaughter, and entrepreneur, philanthropist and Hammersmith Academy founder Tom Ilube CBE joined Headteacher, Gary Kynaston and guests to mark the Academy’s first decade.

Since opening in September 2011, the Academy has gone on to educate 2,765 of the borough’s young people, providing them with a challenging modern education coupled with extensive access to socio-economic and personal development opportunities. The Academy has become the school of choice for many families in the borough and last year received over 1,000 Sixth Form applications.

The evening of celebration brought together the Academy’s sponsors, The Mercers’ Company and The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, dignitaries, partners, alumni, parents, staff and governors to say a collective thank you for their support since the school’s founding.

Alumni shared their experiences of the Academy and how opportunities provided by partner organisations have had a direct impact on them and their personal journey, leading to studying at Oxford University and Russell Group universities, working for Chelsea Football Club and Goldman Sachs and embarking on expeditions to the Amazon rainforest.

Gary Kynaston, Headteacher, Hammersmith Academy, said “These ten years have been an incredible journey for the Academy. To grow from an initial concept to the respected academic institution that it is today at the heart of our community has only been possible through collaboration between our staff, students, sponsors, local community, parents and partners. We all share a pride in what we have created and the difference we continue to make to the lives of our young people. I thank all those who have come on this journey with us.”

Tom Ilube CBE, Hammersmith Academy Founder, said “I sat down with another chap in a café somewhere in north London and we sketched out the idea of a brand new school that had technology, design and creativity right at its heart. We had a vision back then but it’s gone beyond that. The school has taken on a life of its own, the students and staff, they shape the school to what it needs to be for this community and each generation of students define it again. In a sense, the Academy keeps getting relaunched every year as a new group of students come in, go through the school so its been a real joy to see it evolve beyond me and beyond my vision.”