RED ribbon and a VIP guest marked Friday’s official launch of Barnfield West Academy.
The Department of Education’s parliamentary under-secretary of state for schools, Lord Jonathan Hill CBE, declared the £30-million building open at a special ceremony.
He said: “I’m a great fan of Barnfield and what it is trying to do.
“It has used the freedoms of academy status to improve results and is now spreading its know-how and passion for education to help even more children.”
The state-of-the-art structure opened to students in March 2011 and is equipped with all the latest ICT facilities. These include iPads, wireless laptops, interactive white boards and data projectors as well as a 3G all-weather pitch and fitness suites.
A time capsule has been put together and will be buried on the site. It contains items such as a school tie, coins and an invitation to the launch in addition to the current Academy prospectus, newsletter and a picture montage.
Barnfield chief executive and Federation founder Pete Birkett said: “The Academy has gone from strength to strength since it opened in 2007 as part of the Barnfield Federation and this superb building and facilities will assist our students in reaching their career goals and full potential.”
Last year the Academy celebrated its best-ever GCSE results and became the first school in Luton to achieve a 100 per cent pass rate for five A* to C grades.