IF YOU need someone to open a new business centre, who better than the Governor of the Bank of England?

Mervyn King was guest of honour at the Spires Academy in Hersden when the building was unveiled on Monday.

He toured the school with academy leader Helen Foster and tackled a barrage of questions from Year 11 business studies students, on topics from the value of quantitative easing to his predictions for Aston Villa, his favourite football team, this season.

Mr King told students they should be proud of their achievements, both academic and sporting.

He emphasised the importance of maintaining high standards in English and Maths, describing them as the "bedrock of achievement" and told students that they should strive to achieve their best.

He said: "Never set any limits on what you can achieve, set objectives year by year that you can improve upon."

Mr King ended his address saying that he had high expectations of academy students. He said: "When I am very old, I hope to wake up one day to hear the next Governor of the Bank of England has come from Spires Academy."

The Governor was accompanied on his visit by Ian Johnson, academy principal and two sponsors and governors; Gerry Pack, founder of Holiday Extras, and Herne Bay businessman Michael Head, managing director of Crown Products.

He was invited by Mr Head, who had told him about the academy's achievements, and told students he believed his role was to get out and see businesses and to connect with the community.

After the visit, Mr King said: "I'm impressed by the atmosphere and the physical environment here – this is a school going in the right direction."

Mr King was also shown the site earmarked for the £15 million new academy building, which is due to open at the end of 2011.