Secretary of State for Education, Nadhim Zahawi, visited Hammersmith Academy on the first day of the spring term to see students and staff getting back into the school routine.

The visit began with a tour of the Academy, which included the newly opened SEN Base, classroom suites and refurbished fitness suite.  Mr Zahawi stopped by a variety of classes to ask students about their learning experience and joined them in lesson activities. Students were keen to showcase why the Academy was named Sustainable School of the Year at the Global Action Plan awards, RHS School Gardening Team of the Year and winner of the Mayor of London’s Climate Kick-Start Prize, and invited Mr Zahawi into the Academy Garden.

After visiting lessons taking place in classrooms, Mr Zahawi spoke with teachers and support staff about the challenges in the sector and thanked them for their efforts during the pandemic.

At the end of his visit, students presented Mr Zahawi with a plant that they had grown during their gardening time.