Excited students are busy settling in to a £275,000 art and design centre at Westcliff High School for Boys.
Tory MP David Amess was on hand to open the building, complete with a suite of computers linked to the internet.
The centre, designed by Leigh-based Livemore Partnership, boasts two teaching rooms, a sixth-form studio and facilities for pottery.
The whole building opens out on to a light and spacious patio.
Headmaster Andrew Baker was over the moon with the new centre, built by Hall and Riley.
The opening marked the end of an exciting time for the school - just a week ago, it was named as one of the most outstanding in the UK.
Mr Baker said: "I am confident both the design and the facilities of the centre will enable us to continue to produce artistic work of the highest quality."
School's new asset - student Paul Morris makes an artists' impression of the new building
Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD
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