PUPILS at Redbridge Community School flooded through the gates this morning, eager to explore their £10.3m building.

Today is their first day of lessons in the brand new building, which boasts state-of-the-art facilities.

Teachers got their first official look on Monday when they had a welcome breakfast of champagne and bacon butties.

The opening is the highlight of an already brilliant year for the popular school, which recently had its bid to become a specialist sports college accepted.

The old school, which is on the same Cuckmere Lane site, is to be torn down later this year and the space converted into playing fields and a car park.

The new Redbridge Community School offers students the chance to emulate their chart heroes in a recording studio, practice their moves in a dance studio with a sprung floor and train in a cavernous sports hall.

Many of the benefits are also open to the community, which can also take advantage of the on-site nursery and a comprehensive list of adult learning courses running all day.

Head teacher Richard Schofield said: "Pupils here deserve the very best and I believe we have gone a long way towards providing them with it."

Redbridge is just the first of three new secondary schools to be built in Southampton in a £42m project. The other two - Cantell and Woodland schools are due to open their doors in September this year. The funding for all three was found under the controversial private finance initiative - a partnership between businesses and public money.

SEE TODAY'S DAILY ECHO FOR MORE PICTURES OF PUPILS AND STAFF CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF THE NEW BUILDING.