A MULTI-million pound new school building has opened its doors for the first time for a preview visit.

Durham Johnston School has been rebuilt at a cost of £23.8m, with the first classes in the state-of-the-art facilities, at Crossgate Moor, in Durham, due to be held next week.

But on Thursday, Councillor Claire Vasey, Durham County Council's cabinet member for children and young people's services, and Roberta Blackman-Woods, the MP for Durham City, were allowed an advanced look round.

Coun Vasey said: "A great deal of effort and attention to detail has gone into ensuring the new Durham Johnston School was ready on time and to a standard that the staff and students deserve.

"This is an exceptional school building and I am sure students will enjoy and be inspired by it."

Carolyn Roberts, the school's headteacher, said: "Our lovely building marks the start of a new chapter in our history and will allow us to go from strength to strength.

"We are delighted and excited to be entering this new phase in our history."

Durham Johnston School is the first in County Durham to benefit from the Government's Building Schools for the Future, which will see every secondary school in the county rebuild or upgraded over the next few years, at a combined cost of £400m.

Pupils at the school have regularly scored top GCSE results, despite learning in often crumbling structures, some dating back to the 1920s.

The new school, which will bring all pupils together on one site, includes teaching "pods", an outside performances space, two cafes, sport and fitness facilities and a sixth form social area.