September 24, 2024

Students shine live on BBC Radio Derby and East Midlands Today

Today – 24th September – we were delighted to welcome BBC Radio Derby to the Mercia Academy’s brand-new school building.

Reporter Sian Filcher was able to tour our impressive new complex – situated in Newhall, Swadlincote – and chat with staff and students about our remarkable school and our supportive community.

“It’s an incredible journey the school has been on,” Mr Black, our new Assistant Headteacher, told her.

“It’s a fantastic new building. It’s airy, it’s light, it’s bright, it’s nice and warm and there’s spacious corridors… …It inspires students” he continued.

Reflecting on how students have reacted to their new surroundings, Mr Black humorously recalled the reaction of one Year 11 student, who said: “It’s quite good sir!”

“We’ll take that as incredible praise!” he added.

The new building has also been well-received by staff, with Steph Padmore – Head of Creative Arts – saying that they were all “giddy” when they first walked around the new complex.

“It’s been a great, fresh start and I’m really looking forward to seeing what this year brings,” she added.

Next to take to the airwaves were five of our students: Phoebe and Maria (Year 10), Esme (Year 7), Kayden (Year 8) and Ollie (Year 11).

They explained just how excited they were to finally be learning in their new school building.

“We’ve just got so many more facilities, so many more things to learn and it just makes it so much easier,” Kayden explained

“It looks bigger from the outside and it’s bigger on the inside, there’s so many more facilities and it’s just so much better.”

When asked to identify their favourite thing about the new building, Year 11 Ollie said: “My favourite thing about the new school is the teachers and how good they are at teaching you.”

But, what about the important things; what does the new building smell like, for example?

“It definitely smells new!” joked Phoebe and Maria.

“Like when you get a new pair of shoes!

“We need time to adjust and make the school our own [but] it’s going to be so good once everyone has settled in,” they explained.

The excitement continued on Friday, as we welcomed BBC East Midlands Today into our school, where they filmed comparable interviews with students. The segment - which was broadcast as part of the evening's news bulletin - can be viewed again here.

We are incredibly proud of our students for how they conducted themselves live on the radio and on television. They gave insightful and eloquent answers and thoroughly impressed those working on the broadcast!

To listen to the recording again, click here 

Staff interviews start at 1:38:28

Student interviews start at 2:47