A NEW community school built with engineering legend Brunel in mind has opened in Redhouse.

Isambard Community School opened its doors to secondary age students this week, and new headteacher Rachael Mattey is excited about the prospect of shaping a new institution.

Rachel said: "My philosophy is that schools should be places where students are all different, all equal, and all achieving.

"Expectations should be met and raised, needs identified and provided for and barriers to learning and self-development broken down.

"I want Isambard to be a school that the local community can believe in, that is supportive and caring, and which, above all, makes a difference."

The school will share a purpose-built campus with Red Oaks Primary School, Brimble Hill Primary Special School and Uplands Secondary Special School.

It will draw its students principally from the new developments of North Swindon.

A wide range of staff will be needed, increasing in number each year until the school has its full complement of 1,200 students in 2011. The school will fill up on a phased basis over a number of years, starting with Year 7.

Helen Miah, chairwoman of governors, said: "I am thrilled that the last four years of planning have finally materialised in a new school.

"As a parent, deciding to send my son to an unknown school that has never been inspected, has no track record or place in the league tables, is a big risk.

"But it is also a huge opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to do things differently, to give our children a unique start in life."

Students will be educated in four spacious teaching wings, each with a specific purpose - science, design technology, general teaching and maths. The facilities include a television studio, dance hall, drama studio, dining room, and youth room.

There is a separate sports hall with changing facilities and external playing fields, including an artificial pitch with floodlights.

Isambard is the fourth and final school to be built with Private Finance Initiative in a joint agreement between Swindon Council and Education Support Swindon.

The campus is designed to provide integrated community facilities within a secure environment.

Coun Garry Perkins, cabinet member for children services, said: "The completion of Isambard means Swindon Council has successfully achieved Promise 28 to build seven PFI schools in the north of the borough. I hope all of the students at the campus find it an inspiring environment in which to learn and play."

Sarah Hudd, general manager of ESSL, said: "We are delighted to have completed construction on the final school in this exciting project, and look forward to working closely with the council and all of the schools to deliver services over the next 25 years."