TEACHERS, parents and governors gathered at The King’s School in Ottery St Mary last Friday to officially open a new building just in time for the new school year.

Sidmouth Herald: New classrooms were opened at The King's School ready for the new school year. School governor Cllr Robin Mitchell, pictured with headteacher Faith Jarrett and his wife Janet Mitchell, cut the ribbon to the new block. Picture by Alex Walton. Ref sho 1651-37-13AWNew classrooms were opened at The King's School ready for the new school year. School governor Cllr Robin Mitchell, pictured with headteacher Faith Jarrett and his wife Janet Mitchell, cut the ribbon to the new block. Picture by Alex Walton. Ref sho 1651-37-13AW (Image: Archant)

The £2.1million project houses two new computer suites and six classrooms which are being used for English and business studies lessons.

The ribbon was cut by Councillor Robin Mitchell, who attended the school between 1953 and 1959 and now sits on the board of governors.

He said: “The school has changed a lot over the years – there are more students in the sixth form now than there were in the entire school when I was there.

“The building is great for the school and it meant they could get rid of those ‘Devon Ladies’ prefabricated huts – there was nothing ladylike about them.”

“The new IT suites are fantastic, the students will really benefit from the new classrooms and the building has the Rolls Royce of school toilets.”

Work on the building began last September and headteacher Faith Jarrett said she was delighted with how it had turned out.

She added: “The old buildings dated back to the 1940s and were past their best – it was really quite satisfying to see them being demolished.

“These new classrooms are climate controlled and have eco lights which automatically turn off when nobody is in the room, and will cost us much less to maintain.”