Teenagers can pick up new skills at school's post-16 centre

Frank Wise School in Banbury unveiled its bespoke two-storey building, which will feature a new teaching kitchen and a fully functioning flat for students to use, last week.

It replaces a smaller temporary building on the same site that was built in 2007 but has been used by students aged 16 to 19 with special needs since then.

On Monday last week, students and staff held an opening ceremony for the £2 million building.

The pupils welcomed guests with canapes and refreshments, before talking about and showing off their work as visitors toured the new building.

Headteacher Sean O'Sullivan, who has been at the school for 30 years, said: "This gives us a much bigger space than we had before.

"It includes some domestic items and is similar to what people might need in a home.

"The old building was completely inadequate - it was never meant to last more than a couple of years.

"Unfortunately the economic crash in 2007 meant it was difficult to access any kind of funds for the new building."

The opening ceremony was performed by former headmaster Kevin Griffiths, with help from former Banbury MPSir Tony Baldry, now the town's High Steward,

In honour of the previous head, who led the school from 1981 to 2007, the building will be named the Griffiths Centre.

The development was jointly funded through a government grant and Oxfordshire County Council.

As well as the kitchen there is an adjoining dining room for students where regular coffee mornings with visitors can be held.

Mr O'Sullivan said: "The opening was tremendous and the students did a fantastic job.

"The school is incredibly grateful for the support received to actually equip the new building.

"Parents, staff, businesses, charities and individuals in the community have all been wonderfully generous in helping the school to reach its target."

Lady Baldry acted as the patron of a fundraising appeal, which was co-ordinated by the Friends of Frank Wise School.