A NEW state-of-the-art teaching block has been officially opened at an Oldbury school.

Students and staff at Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy celebrated the unveiling of the block on their site at Lower City Road.

This comes after major work that took place at the academy in 2015 to build new teaching facilities and have a 1950’s block demolished.

Nearly £2.5m has been spent on this final phase of transforming the school environment to accommodate the increase in demand for places in the academy which was full and oversubscribed for the fourth consecutive year.

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Work on the main building was completed in August, meaning the academy can now cater comfortably for its increasing popularity.

The building boasts several classrooms, offices and a learning plaza to help complement the students’ learning.

Executive principal Marie McMahon said: “I am so pleased and proud that our students now have such a fantastic, spacious and beautifully equipped learning environment.

“This, coming just after our best set of results ever, underpinned by all the superb hard work of students, staff and our community, is yet another positive milestone on our school journey towards outstanding.”

The academy, graded ‘Good’ by Ofsted, has recently been recognised as a National Support School, a status which recognises exemplary school leadership and a strong track record of providing effective school-to-school support.

Councillor Simon Hackett, cabinet member for children's services at Sandwell Council, said: “In recent years, we have concentrated on making extra places available at primary school.

“Now we are seeing an increase in demand for secondary school places and I'm really pleased we were able to provide OSCA with a much needed, state-of-the-art building.”