BRUMBY Engineering College is the first school in North Lincolnshire to enjoy state-of-the-art facilities provided by the Building Schools for the Future project.

The £91-million scheme will transform secondary education facilities in the region.

And Brumby became the first to see the results of this huge investment at an official opening yesterday.

Pupils at the school can enjoy a new multi-purpose sports hall as part of the school's £11.6-million transformation.

Steel supplied by Scunthorpe's Corus plant was used to construct the main frame of the 600 square metre sports centre which accommodates badminton, five-a-side football and facilities for hockey pitches, volleyball, basketball, tennis and cricket.

Headteacher Dr Tom Clark said the opening was a very significant moment for the Building Schools for the Future project.

"This facility gives us world class facilities in which to promote world class education," he said. "This magnificent structure is exactly what our children deserve – it is truly wonderful and will be envied not just in Scunthorpe but anywhere in the country.

"As a school we will continue to grow from strength to strength."

The sports centre will be used by the wider community on evenings and at weekends and contains a fitness suite and new changing rooms.

The old sports hall will be demolished later this month when year 11 students have finished their GCSE exams to allow room for a new dining room, library, offices and a special needs building.

Page 3

page 1

The next phase of development will be completed at Christmas.

"The name Cemetery Road, where the school is based, doesn't exactly fill our visitors with promise but when the building work is complete we will certainly have the wow factor," said Dr Clark.

"I used to be an Ofsted inspector and in all the schools I visited throughout that time I am yet to see a better sporting facility than this."

Head girl Leanne Dean, 15, said the facility would encourage more youngsters to take part in sport and extra curricular activities.

"The new sports hall is absolutely fantastic," she said.

"I love playing hockey so now we have a great facility to use if it rains.

"The venue is really colourful and a lot bigger which means our PE lessons will be a lot more varied."

And head boy Tom Revell, 15, said: "There is a lot of extra space and more basketball hoops which is brilliant.

"I think the designers have done a brilliant job and I cannot wait for my first PE lesson."

Brumby Engineering College is one of six North Lincolnshire schools benefiting from the pioneering scheme.

Cllr Tony Gosling, cabinet member for children's services at North Lincolnshire Council, said: "It is only a year since construction work started at Brumby Engineering College and a lot of work has taken place. The main contractor May Gurney Ltd has done an excellent job in working side by side with the school so as not to disturb the students.

"It's a very exciting time for the school and all of us involved in Building Schools for the Future to see the first phase of the transformation complete."