THE headteacher of one of Burnley's new super-schools today spoke for the first time about his hopes for the future.

Stuart Smith also gave the Lancashire Telegraph a sneak peek around the new Burnley Schools' Sixth Form Centre.

The school, which is made up of pupils from the former Habergham High School and St Theodore's RC Sixth Form pupils, is based at the former Barden High School.

A new school will be built on the site off Barden Lane by 2008 - and a sod-cutting ceremony was held yesterday.

In the meantime, hundreds of thousands of pounds have been spent improving the former Barden High School ahead of the start of term on Monday.

Around £150,000 has been spent on new IT facilities, while a new library and resource centre has also been built. In addition, the science and technology labs and a student common room have been refurbished.

Burnley Schools' Sixth Form is one of eight new schools in Burnley and Pendle as part of the £250 million Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project, which is the biggest overhaul of local education in the country.

Speaking for the first time about his new role as building work for the new building started, Mr Smith, former headteacher at Habergham High, said he was looking forward to the challenge.

He said: "Who would not be excited by the educational potential that will be tapped into with the provision of so many state-of-the-art educational facilities?

"At the centre of the new campus will be an impressive learning hub linked to all he latest computer technology.

"Flexibility will be the key to providing the very best learning environment for all students."

Mr Smith said school's present facilities would be better than those offered at St Theodore's and Habergham. He added the quality of staff at the school would make the move easier for pupils.

He added: "I am particularly pleased with the staff we have available at the new sixth form.

"One of our top priorities had always been to provide continuity of teaching support for those students moving from the old sixth forms to the new sixth form.

Pupils are also looking forward to the move.

Sarah Gilroy, who used to attend Habergham High said: "I am looking forward to a new mix of pupils with greater concentration on our needs. I can't wait to try out the IT facilities."

Former St Theodore's pupil Ross Davies added: "I know the teaching standards are good because some have taught me before."