‘Magnificent’ new facilities unveiled by Horsham school

Arunside School, in Blackbridge Lane, celebrated the end of the current works at the school, on Friday October 24, with a special ceremony involving singing, stories and a few nibbles.

Pupils sang songs about the school and told stories of the build and ‘the men in hats’ before a ribbon was cut to mark the opening of their new school building.

Head teacher Carol Slight said: “It has surpassed what I could have hoped for.

“It is magnificent for the children. It looks fantastic and it is a really good change.

“Now children of whatever age and whatever ability can learn and grow.”

The school invited a variety of guests to the presentation including builders and contractors from Sunning Hill, school governors and ex-teachers.

There was also one special guest who had the honour of opening the new school building.

Terry Woolven was one of the first pupils to attend the school when it opened in 1965 and along with one of the youngest pupils at the school got the opportunity to mark the opening by cutting the ribbon.

Terry said: “It is exciting to see the new part of the school building, you think I came here when I was five.

“As I walked up those stairs it bought back some memories.

“It was a nice thought to have the youngest student cut the ribbon with me, that was a nice touch.

“I thought it was really nice of Carol to ring me up and ask me to come and open the new school. I was over the moon when I found out.”

The work, completed by Sunning Hill, has seen the capacity of the school double from 210 to 420 pupils and has created a brand new entrance along with a new hall, food technology room and plenty of new classrooms to house the new students.

Bruce Glockling, a governor at the school, said: “I think the builders at Sunning Hill have done a fantastic job and so have the architects.

“They have done very well to keep the teaching going on while the building works were going on. I think it’s absolutely fantastic.

Along with the new build, the school also celebrated the introduction of their new school uniform, which came in at the beginning of the new school year.

A new badge has been created as part of the school new look and pupils from year three and above now have a new tie.