Academy sponsor knighted in New Year Honours (From The Argus)

Academy sponsor knighted in New Year Honours

2:29pm Monday 2nd January 2012 in News By John Keenan

The sponsor of two academies is celebrating after being knighted by the Queen.

Rod Aldridge was recognised in the New Year Honours list for services to children.

The Aldridge Foundation opened the Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA), formerly Falmer High School, in 2010 and the Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA) a year later.

Plans for a £12.7 million revamp at PACA’s Chalky Road site will be considered by Brighton and Hove City Council this month (January).

The proposals include a new three-storey block for the front of the school, formerly Portslade Community College, featuring a new learning resource centre and a café.

Sir Rod is a patron and former trustee of the Prince’s Trust, chairman of V, the volunteering charity, and a member of the Prince’s Charities Council.

He was born locally and went to Portslade County School for Boys.

Sir Rod said he was delighted that the citation highlighted his work with young people.

He said: “I am a tremendous believer in young people and I think it has never been more important to send out the message that they should believe in themselves.

“That’s what the academies are all about. We have made good progress since we started but there is still a long way to go.”

Academies are run outside of local authority control by a private sponsor.