On Monday 22nd of May the latest phase of the development of Abbey Hill School & Technology College in Stockton was officially opened by guest of honour David Bellamy OBE. The event will also be attended by the Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees, Councillor Susanne Fletcher and The Director Children, Education and Social Care, Anne Baxter.

The Sheraton Building is a new extended education facility for young people with special educational needs aged 16-19. Formerly accommodated in a collection of old huts and demountable classrooms in Norton, the students now enjoy the benefits of a £2m state-of-the-art building which is designed to meet their specific needs.

Of particular interest is the emphasis on developing the vocational curriculum. The new building contains a fully equipped hairdressing salon, a large polytunnel for horticulture studies, a modern design technology workshop and a drop-in café run by the students.

Head Teacher, Mike Vening commented: “We are delighted to be in this lovely building. After years of working in cramped, unsuitable conditions, with very few facilities for our disabled students, this is a dream come true. The opportunities this presents for extending our curriculum and raising standards are endless”

The project was partly funded by DfES, Stockton Borough Children’s Services and the fund raising efforts of the school itself. A group of parents raised a staggering £29,000 over a period of 14 months. The result is a facility in which the staff and students can genuinely take pride.

On the same day the school will celebrate the presentation of a new 17 seat minibus with wheelchair facilities thanks to the generosity of the Variety Club Childrens Charity. Their fundraising efforts met over half of the cost of the coach and ensure that all of the students who attend the school will have the opportunity to go on trips and visits as part of their curriculum. Dr Bellamy has kindly agreed to hand over the keys accompanied by Bob Gladwin, Richard Varley and Catherine Middleton from Variety Club, Northern Region.