STAFF and pupils at Christ the King College will walk into new state-of-the-art facilities following the summer holidays in September.

As the current school year draws to a close, so too is construction work on the college’s new building project, which will provide its 1,500 students with top class facilities.

The new school, on the upper school site in Wellington Road, Newport, will also enable all pupils to be taught under one roof, rather than across two sites as was previously the case.

Christ the King College has been rebuilt under the government’s Priority Schools Building Project, and incorporates science labs, art rooms and dance and music studios.

Cllr Paul Brading, the Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet member for children’s education, said: “These premises are much-needed, and will be conducive to the quality of education the pupils deserve.

“I was very encouraged by the positive attitude of the leadership towards the future success of the school.”

After a challenging period for the school, Cllr Brading said the future of education looked bright, and praised the dynamic leadership of executive head, Matt Quinn, and head of school, Nora Ward.

“It was a real pleasure to visit the school and hear of the tremendous progress that has been made over the past year," said Cllr Brading.

“The student behaviour I saw moving around the school was very reassuring, and it’s a testament to the school ethos and leadership that they have recently been awarded The Princess Diana Bronze Anti-Bullying Award.”

Cllr Chris Whitehouse, who represents the ward of Newport West in which Christ the King College is based, and who has actively supported the college’s development, said: “For the first time since its foundation in 2008, GCSE students are not forced to study in what were essentially middle school classrooms.

"They’ve waited a long time to get the keys to their new building ­— it’s been a long journey, but we’re finally there."

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