by Nadia Sam-Daliri Pupils will be on track to start at the borough s new academy in less than two years, with Government funding approved last week. Secondary places for 900 students, including 250 sixth formers, will become available at

by Nadia Sam-Daliri

Pupils will be on track to start at the borough's new academy in less than two years, with Government funding approved last week.

Secondary places for 900 students, including 250 sixth formers, will become available at the academy which is to be built in Adelaide Road, Swiss Cottage.

On the Camden side, the nearest secondary to Kilburn is currently Hampstead School, in Westbere Road, West Hampstead but the new building would serve the south end of Kilburn, positioned within a 20 minute walk of the High Road.

The site is part of �200 million of schools investment in Camden.

University College London (UCL) is the academy's main sponsor.

Cllr Andrew Mennear, Camden's executive member for schools, said: "This is not just good news for schools, this is also great news for local companies who are involved in bidding for the work.

"This could lead to greater employment opportunities for local people and could be a big boost to the local economy."

Building work on the site, which is a two minute walk from Swiss Cottage tube station, will start in September next year.

Around 120 companies sent representatives to a bidding day organised by the council earlier in the year, to try and get a hand in future contracts.

Workshops on buying in locally-based services and recruiting people from the borough have also been held.

Academies often specialise in specific educational areas and have support from the private sector.

Teaching at the Swiss Cottage site will specialise in maths and science with an extra focus on global citizenship and languages.

The Treasury's funding is part of their Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project which has chosen sites across the UK.

It is the largest single injection of cash into schools for more than 50 years.

All of Camden Council's plans and costings have now been approved by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

The academy is on course to open in mid to late 2011.

nadia.sam-daliri@archant.co.uk