a new multi-million pound sixth form centre opened for the first time today after years of planning.

The first students at Braintree Sixth Form, at the Notley High School site, in Notley Road, Braintree, began their new school term this morning.

The £6million centre, a partnership project between four schools, offers students facilities such as a 300-seat theatre and laptop charging lockers.

Director Rory Fox said: “It’s a very good finish. It’s built to a very high standard – fully equipped, fully resourced and everything is new.

“We have got some of the best facilities I have ever seen at a sixth form, some top-notch students, and excellent staff from across the four schools.

“We are incredibly grateful. All the local headteachers worked together on this.”

The project, funded by the Learning and Skills Council, was led by Notley High School, but also involved Alec Hunter Humanities College, and Tabor Science College, both in Braintree, and Honywood Community Science School, in Coggeshall.

The centre offers 23 subjects at AS and A-level, as well as 16 under the International Baccalaureate. It is now the sole provider of AS and A-levels in Braintree.

The building has about 25 classrooms, science labs, library, music and media facilities – everything you would expect, Mr Fox said – but has more mod-cons, including an all-day cafe, where students can get breakfast, underfloor heating and motion-sensitive lighting.

There is also wi-fi throughout the building, and students are encouraged to use laptops, assistant director Kate Stubbs added.

Mr Fox said students were asked to dress as they would in the workplace, which reflected a level of professionalism.

Student Cerys Yeo, 16, said she was excited to attend the centre as everything was new, and she believed the teachers would push the students extra hard to achieve success as it was the first year.

She said she would have attended Colchester Sixth Form College if the new facility had not been built, greatly increasing her travelling time.

Nearly twice the number of students for available places applied to the centre, which can take 150 in its first year.

Notley High School headteacher Simon Thompson said: “For us as a school, it’s been the culmination of three years’ work.

“We started this process in 2006, so now three years later, here we are opening the sixth form. It’s exciting, for me personally, the school, and all the students in Braintree.”