A CEREMONY to mark the opening of a new state-of-art facility costing £2 million was held at Alcester Grammar School.

The Spencer Building’s ribbon was cut by former head boy and children’s consultant eye surgeon at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Joe Abbott and principal Clive Sentance on Wednesday, October 8.

Mr Sentance was delighted with the new building.

He said: "Many people have been involved from inception to completion, and they should be very proud of what they have achieved for present and future students.”

Backing for the project came through a government grant from the Academies Capital Maintenance Fund.

Former head boy Joe Abbott said: “The buildings have changed dramatically there has been a huge improvement in infrastructure which is lovely to see.

“It is a school that strikes a good balance between academic excellence and nurturing its pupils.”

The building houses chemistry labs, language classrooms and food technology classrooms and the extra space will eventually allow 150 extra students to join the prestigious academy.

In the last two years the scheme has enabled the school to increase its intake by 60 pupils, 30 each year.

Mayor of Alcester Mrs Yvonne Hine was among the many guests who attended the official opening.

She said: “It is wonderful to see such a great achievement. We are very proud to have a school of this calibre in Alcester.”

Isha Shelat, a 17-year-old student who studies German in the Spencer Building, said the way the new classrooms have been designed allows the pupils to see the teacher more easily.

Bob Morgan, chair of Alcester Grammar School’s governing body, described the facilities as ‘world class.’

The new building was named after Dr Richard Spencer, an Alcester medical practitioner who became chairman of the school's governors.

He helped towards the founding of the school and worked hard even during the war to improve the school’s facilities, before his death on December 31, 1942.