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Bradenton Preparatory Academy Hosts Introduction Evening

Former U.S. Education Secretary Praises Integrated Learning Environment;

Initial Applications Now Being Accepted

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Bradenton Preparatory Academy, the US school famous for offering an integrated programme covering education and extra-curricula activity, has welcomed hundreds of prospective students and parents at its official launch at Dubai Sports City .

Opening at Dubai Sports City in September of this year, Bradenton Preparatory Academy will offer an academic education with a bespoke method of teaching. Students will be encouraged to take part in school interests other than academic work such as sport and performing arts, while simultaneously receiving an American College preparatory education.

"Opening the Bradenton Preparatory Academy at Dubai Sports City provides a new opportunity to share an approach to learning based on educating and challenging the body, mind and soul - all the talents the child has," said Dr. Rod Paige, the former U.S. Education Secretary. "Children must be given a broader view of education that teaches them to value and nurture all of their unique talents. All aspects of the child will be challenged at the Bradenton Preparatory Academy in Dubai."

Initial registrations are now being taken for the new school year starting in September 2009 for boys and girls from kindergarten, through to grade 12. The academy will house up to 900 students, with more than 200 expected to register in the first year.

Families met the designate headmaster, the Board of Governors, former students and parents from Bradenton Preparatory Academy in Florida, many of whom live and work in Dubai.

In America, Bradenton Prep - founded in 1975 - introduced the innovative concept of integrating a classical and college prep education with elite sports training opportunities. The results of the program include over one thousand graduates earning more than twenty-eight million dollars in academic and athletic scholarships in the United States.

To complement and further the Bradenton Preparatory Academy ethos, a keystone criterion is to ensure that classes have a very low student-teacher ratio. The school operates with a maximum of 18 students per teacher, thereby ensuring that students receive individualised attention that educators find critical to scholastic advancement because it allows the faculty to nurture the student to aspire to be the best they can be.

"I am looking forward to the opening of this unique school," said Dr. Michael Gemma, the designate Headmaster, Bradenton Preparatory Academy, Dubai. "Student needs will be our highest priority and they will be offered great opportunities. I have been involved in both private and public education and I believe Bradenton Preparatory Academy will provide a fully-rounded education to all students in Dubai. These are exciting times."

Bradenton Preparatory Academy students will have a unique and sought after opportunity to benefit from the accredited coaching programmes and excellent sporting facilities offered at the Dubai Sports City Academies Campus - which is situated immediately adjacent to Bradenton Preparatory Academy, thus providing a fully-integrated learning environment.

Students will also be able to receive general health and nutritional advice, as well as bio-metric screening, from the staff at the Dubai Sports City High Performance Centre.

"Having Bradenton Preparatory Academy on the Dubai Sports City site is of huge benefit to the students and the wider Dubai Sports City community," said Khalid Al Zarooni, President, Dubai Sports City . "Bradenton offers families an internationally recognised school committed to improving all aspects of a child's development."

Bradenton Preparatory Academy has a documented success rate of placing 99 percent of its students in university, whilst the other one percent typically embarks on a career in professional sport.

The academy spans more than 130,000 square feet and includes a kindergarten, two-storey elementary school, two-storey junior high school, two-storey high school, auditorium, gymnasium, fully equipped science laboratories, a performing arts centre, and two art rooms.

The academy's American College Preparatory curriculum covers a wide range of subject areas including English, Mathematics, social studies, performing art, and music. Arabic language and cultural studies will also be offered to all students.

Former students of the Bradenton Preparatory Academy with UAE connections include golfer Rhea Nair who is already finishing in the top ten places of tournaments; Christopher Davies, the son of Duncan Davies, Senior Vice President at Emirates Flight Catering, Bayhaan Lakdawala, Jassim Talah, Sebastian Hesele, Abdullah Al Duaij and current Florida student, Ahmed Al Mausharrekh.

Amongst many recognised accreditations, Bradenton Preparatory Academy is internationally accredited by the Commission on International and Trans-regional Association (CITA) and has been recognised for its excellence by the National Independent Private School Association (NIPSA) in the USA.

The Bradenton Preparatory Academy will be located next to the Dubai Sports City Academies Campus which includes the Dubai Sports City Football Academy - the home of Manchester United Soccer Schools, Dubai; the WorldHockey Academy, a first of its kind partnership with the International Hockey Federation; and the ICC Global Cricket Academy.

In addition, Dubai Sports City is home to a David Lloyd Tennis Academy, a Swimming Academy with a 50 metre training pool, a Rugby Academy, and the first Butch Harmon School of Golf outside the United States.

-Ends-

About Bradenton Academy
Bradenton Preparatory Academy promotes and celebrates academic achievement, athletic endeavour, artistic development, and personal growth.

The school will offer the American College Preparatory Curriculum incorporating specialised physical education through the optional use of Dubai Sports City Academies Campus.

Bradenton Preparatory Academy admits students from kindergarten to school leaving age. Students accepted to the academy will desire a college preparatory preparation and, through placement testing, be able to achieve the required credits for graduation.

About Dubai Sports City
Dubai Sports City (DSC) is a $4 billion, 50 million square feet mixed-use development which will be the world's first integrated purpose-built sports city.

The development will be built around five major sports venues and feature a series of major sports academy facilities. For further information, please visit www.dubaisportscity.com

For more information, please contact:
Jon Barber
Consultant
Wallis Marketing Consultants,
+971 4 390 1950
Jon.Barber@wallis-mc.com

© Press Release 2009