New £47m high school opens its doors to pupils in Amble
A new era of education is underway in Amble as the Coquet Community School opened its doors to pupils.
The £47m investment replaces the former James Calvert Spence College in the town.
It opened three weeks later than scheduled due to delays with utility connections to the new building.
The new school, built in just 18 months by contractor Kier, uses innovative technologies to create a net zero carbon in operation school, supporting the council's ambition to become carbon neutral by 2040.
It features new and improved sports facilities which will also be available to the local community including artificial and natural grass pitches, MUGAs and sports hall.
The new school also provides fresh and modern classrooms, science facilities, dance studio, music rooms, library, workshops, dining area and sixth form provision.
Audrey Kingham, Executive Director for Children's Services at Northumberland County Council, said: "We're delighted to have delivered yet another new school in the county – it's a fantastic facility and we know the pupils and staff are going to thrive there.
"This is an opportunity to thank everyone for working together in partnership to deliver a fantastic facility for children, young people and the community of Amble.
"It really does usher in a new era of education provision in the area, as well as providing fantastic sports facilities that will benefit the wider community ."
James Andriot, Headteacher at Coquet Community School, said: "Staff are blown away by the superb new building.
“We cannot wait to welcome the pupils into the new Coquet Community School where they will access state-of-the-art classrooms and practical spaces in PE, the arts, technology, vocational and science.
“The exciting new facilities will transform education for the secondary age children in this community and, speaking on behalf of the school body, we are really grateful to the county council and Kier for developing such an excellent space."
Along with a new secondary school, the wider redevelopment of the site included the refurbishment of the former middle school to create new facilities for Amble First School and a satellite provision for Barndale House School to provide 50 new places for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).