PUPILS and staff have been celebrating after the new £6.5m wing of their school was officially opened.

The 11-month project at Banbury School, Ruskin Road, marked the biggest investment in school buildings by Oxfordshire County Council.

Work to replace 80-year-old Stanbridge Hall began last April and over the past year students have watched as the v-shaped state-of-the-art building took shape.

It boasts 28 classrooms, an upper school reception, office space and a new dining hall and social area.

Over the past year staff and pupils have also been busy fundraising to furnish the new building.

In total the school raised £24,000 by holding events including a concert, and getting local businesses to sponsor a classroom.

Dr Fiona Hammans, Principal of Banbury School, said: “We are very excited that the building work is complete.

“The space and facilities will improve school life for both teachers and students and its location in the centre of our campus means much more time can be focussed on learning.”

“The old Stanbridge Hall is 80 years old and, although in a very poor state of repair, it represents loads of brilliant memories for many members of the local community.

“The future is looking very bright for Banbury School and we look forward to creating lots of new memories in the new Stanbridge building.”

The new Stanbridge building houses the school’s humanities, modern foreign languages and business studies faculties and has been designed with eco-friendly features.

These include large windows for natural lighting and rooftop ventilation for good air circulation, which should reduce energy use and emissions.

It also has a drainage system that recycles rain water and reduces the risk of flooding at the site.

Last Friday, the chairman of Oxfordshire County Council Tony Crabbe closed forever the old Stanbridge Hall, which sits at the outskirts of the campus.

It is believed the former classrooms will be redeveloped for housing.

Moments later the blue ribbon to the new building was cut by Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Michael Gove.

Councillor Michael Waine, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for schools improvement, added: “Banbury School saw greatly-improved exam results last summer and the headteacher is dedicated to improving standards even further.

“I believe this wonderful new building will have a significant positive impact in raising educational achievement at the school.”

About 200 people went to the opening ceremony including Banbury’s MP Tony Baldry and a host of former pupils.