A NEW secondary school in Bordon is set to open its doors for the first time to students and staff on Monday, November 11.

Likely to be the “last major educational facility of this scale to be built in Hampshire”, according to Whitehill and Bordon county councillor Adam Carew, Oakmoor School, located in Budds Lane, will house 900 students, with the capacity to expand to 1,200 as the town grows.

The school will replace Mill Chase Academy, with the whole school population set to move. A planning application for “approximately 150 residential dwellings” is expected at the Mill Chase site.

Hampshire County Council’s cabinet and local members were given a preview of the new £30 million school on Thursday (October 3), which the authority has invested £10m into.

One of those visiting the school was Cllr Carew who said: “Oakmoor School is a beautifully designed £30m state-of-the-art educational facility right here in Whitehill and Bordon.

“This will prove transformational for our town for its pupils, staff and our whole community.

“As county councillor I remember going to meet the then-leader of Hampshire County Council to make the case for a new school and have had various meetings with officers and architects along the way.”

He added: “We are told with the current funding cuts in local government this is probably the last major educational facility of this scale to be built in Hampshire so I am delighted we have secured the investment, £10m of which is direct from the county council.”

Oakmoor School will be open to community use outside of school hours and will have improved sports facilities, including a flood-lit, all weather pitch and six indoor badminton courts.

The cost of the build also includes contributions from the Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Company, Homes England, East Hampshire District Council and the Department for Education.

Cllr Carew added a “huge thank you to all involved”, and “looks forward to the formal opening”.

Headteacher Paul Hemmings said: “Parents chose Mill Chase because our school has the perfect mix of high quality pastoral and academic support staff with exceptional teachers. Staff in our school work in strong partnership with parents to ensure that young people in our town enjoy their education and achieve well.”

Mr Hemmings added: “Our new school buildings will enhance our provision further, allowing us to be even more successful.”

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