APUBLIC school is to unveil a new multi-million pound facility which aims to enhance its business and science teaching.

The new Bamford Centre at Ampleforth College, the leading Roman Catholic school in North Yorkshire, is to be opened next week by its most prominent benefactor.

Sir Anthony Bamford, chairman of JCB Excavators, will officially open the 24,000sq ft building. It includes 12 laboratories for biology, chemistry and physics, a large lecture room, a science library and offices.

The centre, which opens next Friday, has been designed to provide ultra-modern and spacious facilities for all the science departments, as well as business studies, economics and politics.

A lower ground floor houses the modern studies department for sixth form business studies, economics and politics, with three classrooms, a staff office and a library and resources area.

All rooms on the two floors have computer links to the school network, allowing students and staff to use information technology facilities in classrooms and laboratories. The building has been sited next to the college's existing design and technology and art departments to allow curriculum links between these subjects and science to be strengthened. The college's old laboratories will be converted to provide extra classrooms and leisure facilities.

Work on the Bamford Centre started in September last year and is part of a four-year development programme linked to the college's bicentenary celebrations in 2002.

The headmaster of Ampleforth College, Father Leo Chamberlain, said he was delighted with the completed facility.

He said: "This fine new building adds to our resources in important ways. It offers 40 per cent more floor space for science teaching. It also reflects the significance we attach to integrating the sciences with business, design and technology and art.

"The demands of modern educational provision today are greater than they have ever been. Good financial management and the help of some of our friends are enabling us to meet them."