PUPILS were aptly chosen to cut the ribbon to officially open the new look sports centre at The Bay CE School in Sandown. 

Councillors from the Bay area were special guests attended the recent opening — Cllr Jenny Hicks (Lake Parish and Sandown Town Councils) and Cllr Ian Fletcher (Sandown Town Council) — who were met and greeted by a delegation of students.

Following a cutting of the ribbon to officially open the facility, by students Lana Gardner and Max Williams, the children gave their civic guests a tour of the sports centre, and explained the benefits they get from using it in their PE lessons and extra-curricular clubs. 

Isle of Wight County Press: The Bay CE School students Lana Gardner and Max Williams cutting he ribbon to officially open the new-look sports centre in Sandown.The Bay CE School students Lana Gardner and Max Williams cutting he ribbon to officially open the new-look sports centre in Sandown. (Image: The Bay CE School)

The refurbishment, at the secondary site on The Fairway, includes modern new changing rooms and toilets, a refurbished sports hall and a new fitness suite and gym. 

The sports centre is fully used by The Bay CE School for PE lessons, for both primary and secondary pupils, and is also made full use of by the local community. 

The project was the first phase of development at The Bay CE School's secondary site, under the Building Schools for the Future Programme. 

Isle of Wight County Press: Students at The Bay CE School meet and greet local councillors at their sports centre's official opening recently. Students at The Bay CE School meet and greet local councillors at their sports centre's official opening recently. (Image: The Bay CE School)

The principal contractor appointed to the project was Morgan Sindall. 

Extensive work was also carried out in the main school, which included new 'multi-sex' toilets, as well as languages, geography and maths classrooms and a refurbished hall, which has been in use since the start of the academic year, in September last year. 

The next phase of the project is to replace West Block, with the construction of a ‘super’ block to include new science and technology teaching spaces. 

Isle of Wight County Press: The Bay CE School's Year 7 basketball team — Sid Harper, Josh De-Bootman, Rufus George, Daniel Hillier, Charlie Westmore, Jenson Fowler, Leo Summers, Louie Eglese, Kris Groves — were the first pupils to use the sports centre folowing its official opening.The Bay CE School's Year 7 basketball team — Sid Harper, Josh De-Bootman, Rufus George, Daniel Hillier, Charlie Westmore, Jenson Fowler, Leo Summers, Louie Eglese, Kris Groves — were the first pupils to use the sports centre folowing its official opening. (Image: The Bay CE School)

Duncan Mills, The Bay School's executive headteacher, said: “We're delighted the sports centre is back in use again. 

"The centre compliments the superb sports facilities we already have on the secondary site — a climbing wall, 3G astro-turf pitch and running track. 

"The school has an excellent reputation for sporting achievements and it's fantastic our pupils and the local community can use our first class sports facilities.”