WORK to transform the former Masonic Lodge in Banbury Road into a Sixth Form centre could be complete by the summer , with students having already been shown round the new building.

The highest point of the new d’Overbroeck’s teaching centre, which will house five science laboratories, a library, school hall and a 180-seater auditorium, was constructed last week and a series of events and tours will be held at the beginning of next year.

The original 1823 villa, adjacent to the lodge, is also being restored with a large garden at the front.

One of the first guests to tour the new facility, Robin Badham-Thornhill - chairman of the school’s governing body - said the facility, which could also be opened to the community, would be great for the school and the area.

He said: “It’s a real statement of intent and will be a very impressive sixth form centre.

“The classrooms are still to be fitted out but you can already get a feel for the space.

“There are wide corridors which you don’t often get in schools and as well as new teaching spaces there’s the hall - for performance, events and dining - and you will have on-site catering.”

Under-floor heating will be fitted in the building this week and windows will be installed in the renovated villa.

The school also revealed a number of events, including tours, will be organised in the run up to the official opening in September - after the first cohort toured their new space last week.

The school’s principal Sami Cohen, who will retire at the end of this academic year having overseen the development, said: “It was a real pleasure to take our Year 11 students to show them the new building as it take shape and the environment in which they are going to be taught next year.

“It was also a good opportunity for them to ask questions and for us to hear their suggestions of ways in which the building could be used.”

A former care home building opposite the new sixth form centre is also on track to open as a boarding house for 60 pupils from next September.