Royal Wootton Bassett Academy has celebrated the opening of a much-needed new sixth form building.
Staff, students and governors gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new building, which supplements the existing provision for sixth formers with more classrooms and study space.
There are currently about 380 sixth formers, but the number is growing.
Money provided, thanks to legislation, by developers currently expanding Royal Wootton Bassett helped to make the project a reality, and work started last November.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was performed by parent governor Rupal Patel.
Headteacher Anita Ellis said: "This is the culmination of approximately eight years of planning, in that we have invested a significant amount of time and effort to extend our sixth form at a time when funds are not plentiful.
"Due to the additional funds that have come our way as a result of the various building projects in the Royal Wootton Bassett area, we have been the beneficiary of a significant amount of money, which has allowed us to build."
Ms Ellis paid tribute to people who were major driving forces behind the success of the project, especially former head teacher George Croxford, who is now CEO of Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Trust, Jon Stewart, former Chief Financial officer with the trust, and school admin manager Shelly Davies.
The headteacher added: "We had to think of the best way to get value for money and to get as many classrooms as we possible could because we have an ever-increasing and very popular sixth form.
"We offer over 40 different curriculum courses and a wide variety of opportunities for our young people, and so we needed more teaching space."
Witnesses to the ceremony included head students Michael Redmond and Lee Hillier.
Ms Hillier said: "It's really good just having the extra space, especially with covid and having to separate Year 12 and Year 13. I think we have all picked up on the fact that there isn't really as much room as we'd like there to be, so having a new building and especially the new study space that we have now really helps to give us that extra space where we can get stuff done."
Mr Redmond said: "Last year Year 13 were up on the top floor in a computer room which wasn't so practical, so it's nice now having a dedicated space that we can go and study in if we need it."
There are currently about 380 sixth formers, but the number is growing.
Money provided, thanks to legislation, by developers currently expanding Royal Wootton Bassett helped to make the project a reality, and work started last November.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was performed by parent governor Rupal Patel.
Headteacher Anita Ellis said: "This is the culmination of approximately eight years of planning, in that we have invested a significant amount of time and effort to extend our sixth form at a time when funds are not plentiful.
"Due to the additional funds that have come our way as a result of the various building projects in the Royal Wootton Bassett area, we have been the beneficiary of a significant amount of money, which has allowed us to build."
Ms Ellis paid tribute to people who were major driving forces behind the success of the project, especially former head teacher George Croxford, who is now CEO of Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Trust, Jon Stewart, former Chief Financial officer with the trust, and school admin manager Shelly Davies.
The headteacher added: "We had to think of the best way to get value for money and to get as many classrooms as we possible could because we have an ever-increasing and very popular sixth form.
"We offer over 40 different curriculum courses and a wide variety of opportunities for our young people, and so we needed more teaching space."
Witnesses to the ceremony included head students Michael Redmond and Lee Hillier.
Ms Hillier said: "It's really good just having the extra space, especially with covid and having to separate Year 12 and Year 13. I think we have all picked up on the fact that there isn't really as much room as we'd like there to be, so having a new building and especially the new study space that we have now really helps to give us that extra space where we can get stuff done."
Mr Redmond said: "Last year Year 13 were up on the top floor in a computer room which wasn't so practical, so it's nice now having a dedicated space that we can go and study in if we need it."
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