DOORS of a multi-million pound new sixth form building will be thrown open at Wootton Bassett School.

The school is hosting an open evening on Monday to show off the state-of-the-art building and to reveal its plans for the introduction of the International Baccalaureate for the next academic year.

The swish new centre was paid for as a joint project between the school and the Learning Skills Council.

It includes eight seminar rooms and a number of specialist areas for media studies and information technology.

Marian Curran, head of the sixth form, said: “The centre has allowed for the expansion of the sixth form at Wootton Bassett, which has continued to achieve excellent results in past years, and has recently been praised by Ofsted Inspectors.

“Over the years the school has developed a reputation for excellence in post-16 provision with over 80 per cent of students successfully applying to university.

“It has been our aim to further improve our already good facilities and the new centre will ensure sixth formers have an excellent environment in which to learn and prepare them for their future.The centre is quite unique in that we have created business-like surroundings rather than typical school classrooms.

“And that provides students with a much more mature environment for study.”

From next September Wootton Bassett will also be introducing the International Baccalaureate.

Seen as an alternative to A-levels, the two-year IB Diploma programme is for students aged 16-19.

“It is an academically challenging and balanced programme of education with final examinations that prepare students for success at university and life beyond,” said Marian.

“The IB Diploma programme is a demanding two-year curriculum, leading to a qualification that is welcomed by leading universities and colleges around the world.”

Monday’s open evening starts at 7pm.