A BISHOP Auckland school has celebrated an £8m redevelopment which has transformed its outdated 1960s building into a 21st Century learning centre.

Parents of the 1,200 pupils at St John's Roman Catholic Comprehensive School and Sixth Form Centre joined the diocese in contributing £800,000 towards the renovations, which were largely funded by the Department for Education.

The school, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year, draws students from Catholic communities across south west Durham.

It was rededicated last night by the Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, Kevin Dunn, who blessed its chapel earlier this month.

He said: "St John's has undergone a transformation in recent times and it is important to mark such an achievement with a ceremony that brings together all involved.

"The new-look school will be a fitting place to continue to strive for academic excellence, and the rededication to St John reminds us of the school's Catholic tradition and strong Catholic ethos.

"The refurbishment provides 21st Century facilities to support its commitment to providing a learning community guided by Gospel values."

The development includes a £1m science wing with ten fully-equipped laboratories.

Sixth form pupils moved into the centre in September, shortly before the school opened its performing arts suite, making professional standard sound equipment available to all pupils.

Visitors were also given a new entrance at the front of the building on Woodhouse Lane. This has improved security for pupils, who use a separate entrance at the side.

A dining area, created with catering company Hallmark, offers a range of healthy food, and in the main building, a Learning Resource Centre is linked to a Cyber Caf.

Assistant head Julie Mackenley said that the refurbishment had been carried out with the minimum disruption to lessons.

She said: "The support we have had from parents and students has been brilliant, so it's a celebration for them as for anybody else."