NEW SCHOOL "JEWEL IN £30M CROWN"

GOVERNMENT Minister of State for Schools Stephen Timms and youngsters buried a time capsule and planted a tree to mark the official opening of the Peacehaven Community School on Monday.

The new school has state-of-the-art computer equipment, six science labs, a music suite, a drama room and facilities for students with special educational needs.

East Sussex County Council lead cabinet member for education Rupert Simmons was at the opening.

He said: This superb new school is the jewel in the crown of a 30 million package of school improvements for the people of Peacehaven. The secondary school cost 9.5 million and follows the opening of Hoddern Junior earlier this year. The total scheme will also deliver the rebuilding of Telscombe Cliffs Primary, rebuilding of Peacehaven Infants and a new nursery at Meridian Primary.

The scheme has been developed under the Government s Private Finance Initiative which combines the financing, building and maintenance of the school under a 25-year contract.

From design through to construction the contract for Peacehaven Community School took 17 months. One hundred and eighty seven pupils started this term and that number will eventually reach 750, with the possibility of increasing the total to 900 by 2005.

A private sector consortium called Peacehaven Schools Ltd is responsible for the construction of the schools and facilities management once they are up and running.