New Rugby Free Secondary School building opens its doors to more than 700 pupils and staff

The new school is has been years in the making.
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More than 700 pupils and staff from Rugby Free Secondary School began using their new school site this morning, February 24.

The school had been temporarily housed on Anderson Avenue for three-and-a-half years while the new site was built on the same road.

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Brenda Mullen, CEO Learning Today Leading Tomorrow Trust which runs the school, said: “The new building has been a long time coming and we are grateful to the Department for Education and building company, BAM for providing such a wonderful resource for children in Rugby.

Pupils are enjoying the new facilities.Pupils are enjoying the new facilities.
Pupils are enjoying the new facilities.

"Miss Roberts, acting headteacher, and her staff team have worked tirelessly over the half term holiday to get the school ready for the students to use today.

"We are particularly grateful to our parent body and older students who have had to wait patiently for the new building to be ready for a considerable length of time.”

Miss Roberts, who has been acting head since September last year, said: “It is an exciting day for all our students, staff and parents.

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"We now have a superb range of state-of-the-art facilities that will ensure children have access to a broadand balanced curriculum and provide staff with the resources they need to provide a world class education for all our current and future students.

"Importantly, as we have all our students under one roof for the first time, we are now in a position to grow together as a whole school body.”

Head of Year 7 Mrs Austen said: “We have been so excited at the prospect of moving into our new building and for this day to finally arrive seems somewhat surreal."

"I am particularly looking forward to seeing all our students come together as a cohort and for us to move forward together.

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"To do so in such a positive way with amazing new resources and a more than impressive new building, is a great opportunity for us as teachers and support staff.

"It enables us to further develop the progress of our students and provide them with the educational experience they deserve.”

Year 10 student, Sophie Hughes said: “I have been waiting for this building for three years now.

"I was excited to finally move in and be able to have more space and from what I can see today, I am now confident that I will be able to thrive in the subjects that I am taking.

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"The facilities at this new building are outstanding, for example the science labs are now really big and well organised.

"Also, I like that the building has separate areas for where we can study because it will enable me to get help from my peers.

"This new building has outstanding facilities and it was worth the wait.”

The news comes after Ofsted said the school has been making progress after what the school described as a 'disappointing' Ofsted inspection result last year.