THE delayed opening of a new school has been hailed a ‘phenomenal success’ after hundreds of pupils started their classes.

Yesterday’s staggered opening saw 400 pupils from years seven and 11 at Pendle Vale College and 60 from Pendle Vale Community High School, take classroom tours and start their lessons at the site in Oxford Road, Nelson.

Setbacks in the construction of the new site meant that more thanr 1,000 students missed out on five days of teaching.

The remainder of the 600 plus pupils from the two schools, the first mainstream and special school in the country to be completely integrated, will begin their lessons today and tomorrow.

Pendle Vale College is located on floors one, two and four with the community high school, which caters for pupils with learning and physical disabilities, taking the third floor. The two schools will share sports and education facilities to encourage integration.

Head of Pendle Vale Community High School, Paul Wright, who has 23 years of experience in special schools, said the facilities were excellent.

He said: “The opening was fantastic and the children loved the experience. It has been a phenomenal success.

“We are looking forward to seeing them all come in over the next few days.

“The staggered start, which was always planned, gives the children a chance to get to know their new environment.

“It was a shame it was delayed but these things can happen when you have such a large build.

“The integrated school will encourage socialising and interaction between the two schools and allow the pupils to achieve individual success.”

Pendle Vale College headteacher Steve Wilson said: “The students have been in awe of what they have seen. They have had a wonderful day in the school, which is impressive and has fantastic facilities.”

Pendle county councillor Tim Ormrod, who also sits as a governor on the community high school, welcomed the development, which is part of the first phase of Lancashire County Council’s £250m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project.

He said: “I am absolutely ecstatic that this new building is open for the children of Pendle. It is not just a high school but also for the special needs children.

“They will be sharing a lot of the same facilities and these are second to none, as far as I am aware it is the only school of it’s kind in the UK.”

An open day will take place next Saturday from 9.30am to 12.30pm.