A £1MILLION new geography building at Ringwood School was officially opened by geologist Steve Etches MBE.

Mr Edges is well-known in the world of geology, having amassed a collection of more than 2,000 fossils from the Jurassic Coast over the last 30 years.

The nationally significant collection, known as The Etches Collection, can be viewed at Kimmeridge Museum and pupils and staff at Ringwood School were delighted to welcome Steve to officially open the building.

The building is an innovative modular construction which now offers high specification, modern classrooms, resulting in an inspiring learning environment.

The new building is a result of Ringwood School’s success in obtaining funding from the Government’s Condition Improvement Fund to replace a 1960s building

An improved thermal efficiency was also key in the planning of the new building, to reduce the school's energy consumption and carbon footprint. The project was completed in seven months and is the second new building for Ringwood School in the last two and a half years.

The official opening was attended by Mayor of Ringwood Cllr Tim Ward

Leanne Symonds, head teacher, said: "I am absolutely delighted that our new geography building has been officially opened and that we can now offer Ringwood School students an enhanced learning experience in one of our most popular subject areas.

"We have now completed the upgrade of our humanities accommodation and look forward to the development of other areas of the school in the future."