A NEW sixth form facility at Gordano School in Portishead is nearing completion and will be open in time for the new school year.

The �2million building hosts a modern performing arts and lecture hall, complete with tiered seating, specialist lighting and sprung floor and four spacious classroom. A large open-plan study area will be fully equipped with computers for students to use in their free study time.

The new premises is the result of a grant from the Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA) to improve accommodation at the school to keep pace with the growth in sixth form that has occurred in recent years.

Headteacher Gary Lewis said: “Our sixth form has been bursting at the seams and although our students have made the best of our existing facilities it is only right to provide them with university-quality accommodation. The YPLA grant has allowed us to do that.”

Mr Lewis also said he work, carried out by contractors Wilmott Dixon, had run smoothly and is ahead of schedule.

He added: “We consulted carefully with our neighbours at the beginning of the project and it is greatly to Wilmott Dixon’s credit that we have retained the full support of local residents throughout a major building project such as this.”

Gordano School will have around 420 sixth form pupils in September who will benefit from the new facilities.

In addition to the new block, the students will continue to use the dedicated sixth form facilities that are currently in place in the heart of the school. These include a large common room, with coffee bar, two seminar rooms and a large study area, self-contained library and a separate careers library.

The current IT teaching room will be revamped to accommodate the sixth form art and photography students.

North Somerset MP Dr Liam Fox is due to officially open the new facility on September 26.