A SCHOOL threatened with closure seven years ago has been taken full circle after governors unveiled its new multi-million pound facilities.
Staff and pupils at Alderman Knight School were celebrating the official opening of their new-look special school yesterday alongside many of the campaigners who fought to keep it open.
The Tewkesbury-based facility in Ashchurch Road has undergone a huge £5.7 million transformation.
The project included building additional classrooms and teaching areas, and also involved the construction of a new hall, kitchen, dining area and playground.
In addition, the school has also been able to introduce a vocational classroom and a 'Lifeskills' flat to prepare the older students for life after school.
In 2004, the school was on the brink of closure after Gloucestershire County Council backed plans to integrate children with moderate learning difficulties into mainstream education.
But following a battle from supporters of the school, it was saved in 2006. To mark its upgrade, the school welcomed special guests yesterday including Olympic rowing gold-medallist Katherine Grainger.
Headteacher Clare Steel said: "This is a day nobody thought would ever come. There were people invited who helped secure the future of the school and lots of people agreed that it looks completely different.
"This is a fantastic day for the school and the facilities are absolutely stunning."
The development includes 12 new classrooms, along with specialist teaching rooms for art, design technology, food technology, science and ICT. There are new smaller spaces for one-to-one teaching, a library, and a sensory suite.
Outside, there is also a new enclosed wildlife habitat with willow tunnels. Plans for the scheme began in the summer of 2010 following council consultation with staff, students and the community.
A spokesman said: "Gloucestershire County Council allocated the funding to Alderman Knight and the new buildings do not disappoint. The successful team included the designers Quattro Design Architects and the contractor Speller Metcalfe."
