STAFF and students at Newton Abbot’s Coombeshead Academy were jumping with joy last week as the Academy’s new £2.5 million sports centre was officially opened.

Dame Joan McVittie, former headteacher and past president of the Association of School and College Leaders, was given the honours of cutting the ribbon on Friday.

Joan, who was appointed a dame in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to education, is on the board of the Youth Sports Trust, a national charity passionate about physical education in schools.

Students, staff and guests congregated outside the new facility in the breezy but kind weather before head of the school, Andrew Hulbert, welcomed everyone.

Joan gave an inspirational and personal account of her contribution to the field of education before declaring the multi-million pound complex open.

Andrew said: ‘The £2.5 million investment in the new sports and PE facilities places Coombeshead at the centre of our community.

‘Not only can we now offer outstanding facilities and further opportunities for our students, we can also support our local community in ensuring they have the high quality facilities required to fulfil the recreational and competitive needs of so many.

‘This begins a new era for the school as we continue to unlock the incredible potential within Newton Abbot and the surrounding area,’ he said.