A host of national and international sporting stars headlined a week-long celebration to mark the first academic year together for one of Plymouth's largest and most impressive school campuses, which combines four schools on one site and was built by Kier Construction.

The official opening ceremony for the Tor Bridge Partnership in Estover took place on Thursday 11 July, when the Deputy Lord Mayor was joined by England cricket captain Charlotte Edwards, international cricketer Hannah Knight and international athlete Katherine Endacott, along with representatives from Plymouth Albion Rugby Club.

Events took place to mark the completion of a full academic year for the four schools following the £39m programme of building works, which saw the creation of a campus that educates children from 0 to 19 with a range of abilities.


Kier donated a time capsule, which was buried by Graham Browne, the last principal of Estover Community College and the first executive principal of the Tor Bridge Partnership, whose vision was a great driver behind the development of Tor Bridge. The capsule, containing memories of the three schools, will now lie undisturbed until 2037.

Michael Loveman, executive principal for the Tor Bridge Partnership, said: "We are celebrating our official opening with many of Plymouth’s finest sporting stars coming to celebrate with us. The campus had lots of activities happening throughout the week and all of our pupils got involved in some way. This inclusive and supportive team ethos sums up what the Tor Bridge Partnership is all about."

A number of Plymouth's sporting teams supported the celebrations by encouraging pupils to try out different skills and experience a range of sports including basketball sessions with Plymouth Raiders basketball coaches and sessions with the Plymouth Storm wheelchair basketball team, one of only two teams in Devon.

(CD/JP)