ALTON town mayor councillor Graham Titterington was at Amery Hill School recently to officially open a brand new dining hall and kitchen facilities.

He was accompanied by head boy Mack Wellfare, head girl Bonnie Hodgson and one of the youngest students, Ruby Rollings.

A visually striking building, with floor-to-ceiling windows on the outside walls, as well as providing dining facilities for an increasing number of students, the room has been designed to be multi-functional, with adaptable lighting and an integrated projection and sound system installed.

A significant proportion of the funding came from the DfE Healthy Pupils Capital Fund, with support from The Eggar’s Trust, Caterlink and Hampshire County Council, as well as Scope Architecture and contractors Mountjoy.

As part of the project, the school has considered how it can reduce plastic waste and increase sustainability.

Jon Eacott, assistant headteacher and project lead, explained: “Solar panels have been fitted to the roof of the main school building to help provide power for the new building and, with increased capacity, students’ main meals are served on reusable crockery, significantly reducing the dependence upon disposable items.”

Described by headteacher, Steve Mann, as “a very exciting time in Amery Hill School’s evolution”, the new facility marks the completion of the first phase in a building programme which will, in time, see the creation of a new multi-functional performance space.