The Athletes Village will create a lasting legacy for Stratford and the surrounding area – not just in bricks and mortar but also through massive investment in jobs, training and above all, education.

Completed in time for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and scheduled to open in September 2013 the Education Academy at the Athletes Village will be made up of a series of separate but linked schools. Together, they’ll offer a comprehensive programme of education for local people, from pre-school children to adults.

The Academy will be a world-class education campus, with state-of-the-art facilities for pupils and the wider community and the very latest eco-friendly technology.

Altogether, there will be 52 nursery, 630 primary, 900 secondary and 250 sixth form places available. The admissions policy is still being developed, but will be based on how close you live to the Academy – with its location on Temple Mill Lane, both the Athletes Village residents and people living in the nearby areas of Stratford and Leyton should find it easy to get to.

The Academy will be an inspiring and motivating place, encouraging students to do their very best. There’ll be a focus on literacy, numeracy, languages and IT, with innovative, energetic and creative teaching from some of the best teachers in the world.

Facilities will be state of the art, from the library to the computers and from the playing fields to the sports equipment.

High standards then, but high expectations too – in dress, punctuality and behavior, encouraging a positive attitude and a sense of pride. Pupils will also be encouraged to celebrate the many different cultures, faiths and backgrounds that make up the local community.

Part of the Government’s national Academy programme, the Stratford Academy will be run by a not-for-profit Registered Charitable Company. Like other schools, there’ll be a board of governors as well as plenty of input from teachers, pupils and parents.

It will also draw on expertise from sponsor Lend Lease, the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the London Borough of Newham, the Olympic Delivery Authority and the Learning Skills Council.