Turning the first turf as work starts on Bognor Regis college

Jodie (11) was one of six children who took part in the symbolic event at the college's Pevensey Road site.

She is already looking forward to her first arts lesson in the new studios of the 40m college funded by the government.

"I like art and, hopefully, we will get some new equipment. A nice big studio with a lot of light would be really good," she explained.

"I would like a gigantic library as well, because I like libraries. I know the new college is going to be much bigger and is going to have more technology than the current one.

"It's going to be really good being on one site because younger pupils will have more interaction with older ones. It will be good to have them to go to rather than rely on the teachers."

Jodie was joined at the shovel, specially engraved to mark the occasion, by another community college pupil to represent its

current students.

Representing those who will benefit from the college further in the future and the primary school which is also being built as part of the campus's redevelopment were Reece Mears (11) and Rhodelle Ingram (11), of Michael Ayres Junior School, and The Glade Infant School's Melody Arnold (six) and Mnotho Gcaba (five).

Adults present at the occasion included Cllr Pat Arculus, who is in charge of the county council's children and young people's services, and Mark Tant, managing director of builders Willmot Dixon.

Cllr Arculus told the gathering of about 30 people she had wanted to see an improved college since she visited the Westloats Lane and Pevensey Road site last year.

She was confident the modern facilities would boost the abilities of those at the college.

But she stated: "I don't think buildings make a school. The staff and the pupils make a school, along with the parents.

"But to have the building they are going to have here will enable the staff to do their job in much nicer surroundings and will have a much better outcome for the children."

Among those watching was local county councillor Simon McDougall. He spent 12 years between 1971 and 1983 being educated on the campus.

He said: "I'm very pleased the project has reached this stage and it is now moving in the right direction. I look forward to it coming to a conclusion next year."

Cllr McDougall said he was hopeful that a youth wing would be provided with the new community college.

The Observer has reported his fears that the lack of funding for the service would mean its omission from the plans.

But the county council has bid for government funding to create new youth facilities.

"We should know whether we have got the money by the end of this month," he said.

If the application was rejected, the council would keep the former technical school building to be converted into youth facilities to ensure the service carried on.

The new college will have accommodation on four floors with two internal courtyard areas. Each classroom will have the latest technology and extensive IT equipment.

The college will also boast a 300-seat theatre, a 150-seat lecture theatre, specialist rooms for an expansion of adult education courses and a gym with Olympic-standard equipment to fit the college's specialist sporting status.

Serious work on the new college began last November.

It will have space for 1,850 students who will receive their first lessons there in September, 2010.

Mr Tant said the number of builders on the site would peak at 120-130 for the secondary school and 60-70 for the primary school.

Crucial to the creation of a new college, and the sweeping away of some buildings which date back to the second world war, is the building of a new primary school at the site's South Way entrance.

This 11m county council-funded school for 630 pupils will replace Michael Ayres and The Glade after work started on it last month. It is due to open next January.

The existing school buildings will be demolished. Housing will be built on some of the site, while some of the playing fields will be retained.

New outside sports facilities have been built for The Arena

sports centre also on the campus to replace those lost to the new college.

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