CHULMLEIGH Community College welcomed HRH The Duke of Gloucester to officially open its new school buildings on Tuesday, October 2.

The Duke arrived by helicopter to a welcoming committee of RAF Cadets and a number of local dignitaries.

He was then given a tour of the new buildings before meeting invited guests and joining pupils from the whole Academy, including Chulmleigh Primary School, Lapford Primary School and East Worlington Primary School and also being entertained by pupil musicians of the Chulmleigh Music Academy Wind Ensemble, who performed three pieces to the assembled audience of 900+ pupils and guests.

Drama pupils then performed a short piece from “The Tempest”, followed by a duologue set in World War Two during the Blitz.

The Duke then unveiled a granite stone plaque commemorating the official opening, and was presented with a piece of mixed media artwork by Year 10 pupil Florence Job, which represents the school crest and Chulmleigh’s Royal Town Charter, granted by King Henry III in 1253.

A posy was presented by Chulmleigh Primary School pupils Ophelia Solity and Harvey Snell.

The Royal visit represented a huge milestone for the school and community, which has campaigned for a new school for many years.

It was the first Royal visit to the area since Queen Elizabeth II planted a tree at Eggesford Forest on May 8, 1956, to mark the one millionth acre of Forestry Commission planting.

Chulmleigh Secondary Modern School was originally built in 1938 and over the years, several temporary buildings were added, to such an extent that by 2004 more than 70 per cent of the school as a whole was made up of “temporary” buildings - some more than 50 years-old.

Before the new building programme began, pupils had to suffer annual rodent infestations, mouldy classrooms, inadequate heating in the winter, poor ventilation and overheating in the summer.

Executive Headteacher Michael Johnson said: “We are very proud of what we have achieved together; a brand new school built on-budget and on-time.

“The drafty old temporary wooden huts which were, at the time, described as ‘not fit for chickens’ have all been replaced with a purpose built school, giving pupils and staff the best environment possible and excellent value for taxpayers.

“For the last four years, the College’s GCSE results have been amongst the best in the region, further raising ambition and expectations and providing a solid context for our success story.”