STUDENTS at St John’s Academy in Marlborough got a sneak peak at the new £1.19 million sixth form centre this week as work continues ahead of its opening in September.

A group of year 11 students, who will be the first cohort to take advantage of the eight-classroom building, were given a guided tour around the building site on Tuesday.

Amy Shave said: “I like the private study area, I think that will be really useful.”

Luke Shields added: “It’s good that we have our own space that is separate from the rest of the school because it gives us our own identity.”

The centre has been funded by the Education Funding Agency and will allow the school to raise its pupil numbers from 1,500 to 1,700.

Martin Cook, director of logistics at the school, said: “It gives us an opportunity to provide courses that we are not able to do currently.

“We’re particularly looking at vocational courses, the idea being that we can provide something so that people living in the area don’t have to travel away to Swindon and other colleges.

“The intention is for these classrooms to also be available for evening classes.”

When the two-storey building is completed, every room will have wireless internet connection and St John’s Family and Friends have already raised £10,000 to kit out the centre.

“It’s a terribly exciting development,” Mr Cook said.