A £1.3m TECHNOLOGY centre opens today (Monday) at Rhyddings High School, Oswaldtwistle, after a year-long building programme.

County Councillor Dorothy Westell, a former pupil of the Haworth Street school, will join the Mayor of Hyndburn, Councillor Mrs Sandra Hayes, and more than 60 guests to officially open the state-of-the-art building.

The purpose-built facility, which replaces the old 1920s-style grammar school annexe, will house hi-tech science equipment, a learning support centre and a dining area, and it will see an end to teaching students on two sites.

Headteacher Barry Burke thanked the LEA, Conlon Construction and County Councillor Westell for their support and said: "The new technology block is a tremendous benefit to the school. It provides a facility which can rightly be described as 'state-of-the-art' and has the added benefit of reducing the loss of valuable curriculum time spent in students walking between the annexe and the main site.

"The current success of students is directly connected to the improved working environment within Rhyddings and we are now looking forward to the construction of a new e-learning centre. This will offer the most advanced learning environment for use by students, the community and local businesses as part of our move towards Business and Enterprise College status."

County Councillor Westell said: "It is a tremendous honour to be opening this technology centre. As an 'old girl', it is extra special for me to see Rhyddings High School have such a superb facility. It will be a very emotional day for me as I still remember my first day at Rhyddings. I have fond memories of my days there - although the teachers who taught me have long retired now. The progress that has been made since my day has been fantastic."

Work on the two-storey centre began in October 2001 and the scheme has attracted interest from councils all over the country, due to the unique way it was carried out. The facility has been built as part of a programme which allows local authorities to work with contractors to achieve longer-term value.