Merchants' Academy

Merchants' Academy is an independent academy in Withywood, Bristol, England. The school is funded by Bristol City Council and sponsored by the Society of Merchant Venturers and the University of Bristol.The sponsors provided an initial £2 million towards new school buildings and facilities, and continue to provide additional revenue support.HistoryMerchants' Academy opened on 15 September 2008, replacing the former Withywood Community School. It is housed in a £30 million new build, which was erected on the site of the predecessor school.The new build consists of seven separate buildings laid out around a central courtyard and the school was awarded the 2009 RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) regional award for architectural excellence.The founding Principal was Stephen Kings, and the founding Chair of Governors was Denis Burn. Anne Burrell was appointed as Principal in 2010.The Academy was officially opened by Princess Anne on 9 February 2011, and an Ofsted Inspection in June 2011 concluded "Merchants' Academy is a good school where all students achieve well".The Academy opened its Army Cadet Force, in spring 2011 in its own purpose built facilities, one of the very few in a state school in the country. The cadet force is part of the vision of the Society of Merchant Venturers to provide character-building activities to students. It was officially opened by Education Secretary Michael Gove and former Chief of the General Staff General Lord Dannatt on 28 February 2014.