THE state-of-the-art purpose built school opened for the first day of term on September 5.

While year seven and 11 students were the first to step inside, more than 1,100 members of the public were given their chance to look around during a special open day on Saturday.

The secondary school, which became an academy in 2009, was inundated with visitors eager to see the site for themselves.

Principal and chief executive John Sheppard said: “This building is in another league. Students and adults in the South Wye area now have a worldclass learning institution of their own and rightly so.

“I am certain that this new building will do much to enhance both teaching and learning and will help standards to continue to remain high at the school.”

The building was designed by engineers Willmott Dixon. Their brief was to construct a building which maximized the use of natural daylight with enough room for 1,120 children.

The two-storey building comprises a sports hall, dining room, activity studio and atrium.