BBC Chief Operating Officer opens partner Oasis Academy's new Learning Plaza

Caroline Thomson, Chief Operating Officer of the BBC, visited Oasis Academy MediaCityUK on Tuesday 19th January to open their new Learning Plaza. Andy Davy, Project Director FM&T for BBC North, Hazel Blears MP for Salford and Steve Chalke MBE, Founder and CEO of Oasis Community Learning also attended the event.

Caroline opened the new Learning Plaza at the Academy by unveiling a commemorative plaque, and later met with students studying for the Creative Media Diploma, as well as spending time with students working on a History project using materials from the BBC archives.

Caroline Thomson said, "The BBC is building new partnerships across the educational sector in the North, as part of our move to a major new network centre in Salford in 2011. I am delighted to open the new Learning Plaza at Oasis Academy MediaCityUK, which is a great new resource for students to develop skills for the digital age."

Dave Terry, Principal for Oasis Academy MediaCityUK, said, “It is a pleasure to host Caroline Thomson and Andy Davy today, as well as our other distinguished guests. The Academy Learning Plaza will provide both current and future students a real boost in their education and digital experience, and we are very grateful to Caroline for being here today to help us celebrate this occasion.”

The relationship between the Academy and the BBC was further strengthened by news of a recent addition to the Academy Council. Andy Davy, from Future Media and Technology at BBC North, is to join the Academy’s Council and will strengthen ties between the Academy and the BBC.  

Andy said, "I am very pleased to be joining the Oasis Academy Council as I have been impressed by what I have seen there. I know they have some very exciting plans for the future and I am glad the BBC can contribute to their development. The BBC is engaging in a wide range of new partnerships as part of our move to MediaCity in Salford and I think it is very important that we start to develop new links in the wider community ahead of our actual move in 2011."

Steve Chalke, Founder and CEO of Oasis Academy MediaCityUK, said, “These are exciting times for Oasis Academy MediaCityUK; the Academy is continuing to make significant advances in what we offer our students and the local community, and it is fantastic news that Andy has accepted a position on the Academy Council. I know that we will benefit hugely from his input and we look forward to an even closer relationship with the BBC, which can in turn only increase the educational quality that our students receive at Oasis Academy MediaCityUK.”