THE official start of building work on a controversial academy in Wembley is taking place this morning.

Although construction work is already underway, pupils from the ARK academy will perform a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of the building of the permanent school in Bridge Road.

Headteacher Jacqueline Steele, project director Sabah Abed, pre-construction director Ian Smith, and Brent Council's director of children and families John Christie will join the pupils for the brief ceremony on the Wembley Park Sports Ground.

The new school is being built next to temporary classrooms, which were erected to allow the first classes to start in September last year.

The academy has had a rocky road so far, facing fierce opposition from groups who believe it is in the wrong part of the borough and should not be built, not least Wembley Park Action Group (WPAG).

The group, a loose collective of activists, residents, and teachers' union members, have staged various protests including sit-ins on the site, flash mobs outside the council offices, and an occupation which led to group leader Hank Roberts chaining himself to a flagpole on top of the club house on the former sports ground.

The actions of WPAG made national headlines and cause a major storm for the Liberal Democrat administration on the council which has proposed the academy.

But despite the strong opposition, which includes the Tory group on the council which is in coalition with the Lib Dems, the academy plans have continued unabated.

However, the building of the permanent school has been delayed by the protests, and the academy is not expected to be fully completed by September 2010 when it is due to open.