DESPITE increasing rain, a feeling of optimism stayed with Chulmleigh Academy when its new buildings were opened during the morning Tuesday, September 5.

As everyone began piling out of the school buildings to gather around the front, so the rain began - and barely stopped for the rest of the morning.

Completion of Phase Three means that the school has had a total rebuild for less than £6 million, an expansion that means it can take 750 students, almost 200 more than now, and is now completely free of asbestos.

The new technology and arts buildings - the Colleton Building and Newnham Building - were opened by two local councillors cutting the red ribbons across the main doors.

Cllr Sue Croft, chairman North Devon District Council and vice chairman of Chulmleigh Parish Council, said she was full of praise for everyone involved with the building and Academy adding that it had established a reputation as being capable of inspiring people to do their best and try new ideas.

She then cut the ribbons across the entrance to the arts block, the Newnham Building, while Cllr Simon Phillips, chairman Chulmleigh Parish Council, cut the ribbons across the main entrance to the technology building.

Cllr Phillips said everyone at the Academy should be proud of themselves, that there was much talent among students which the staff were so good at helping to develop and now there were the facilities on which to build even more.

Visitors, including councillors and governors, were introduced to the School Council headed by the Head Boy Nathaniel Scarbrough and Head Girl Tori Higglesden.

Other members of the School Council they met were Silas Rowe, Will Stredwick, Kate Moore, and the deputy Head Boy and Head girl Jasmine Fifield, Tony Langrill.

Earlier the deputy Head Girl, Jasmine Fifield, had presented a £1,458.56 cheque for Phil French, chairman DART (Devon Ambulance Response Team).

This was formed 14 months ago and in its first year dealt with 99 patients. It supports the Chulmleigh retained fire service who are co-responders for the South Western Ambulance Service.

Last summer DART was able to buy a 4x4 vehicle for the co-responders plus extra kit.

Money raised by the Academy will mean it can buy a full-size training mannequin and a baby size as well as an AED, a defibrillator training aid.

The funds were raised by a virtual walk from the Academy to the R D and E Hospital at Exeter. Using special counters they did more than one million steps, all Jasmine’s idea.

The next fundraising for DART is the charity auction in October as part of its Harvest Festival evening at The Old Court House.

The original idea for the new Academy buildings had been to knock down everything of the old buildings but local people protested saying this was part of the town’s heritage.

So most of the old walls are still there incorporated into the new, the slates were kept and put back on the roof.

It is all well insulated, has solar panels, a ground source heat pump and the walls are coated with a special render so they should never need painting, maybe the occasional hose down.

All the lights switch off if there is no-one in the room. The one mobile classroom that is left will be removed and the whole area landscaped.

The Academy motto is “Nothing but our best” and these new buildings certainly bear that out.

There is an atmosphere of optimism at the Academy. As headteacher Michael Johnson said: “As soon students walk through the door, they know it is seriously about learning.”

As well as getting rid of most of the temporary classrooms, some almost 60 years old, the first phase of rebuilding saw the main hall, music, languages, science and humanities classrooms created.

Next came the new car park, canteen area, maths and English classrooms and the administration area. Funding came through the Conditional Improvement Fund, a national fund for which the Academy Trust had to bid.

Mr Johnson added that the most important part was about the experience for the students, adults and the community.

What the school can offer the community, how the school continues to improve. The community is important to the school and always will be.

Sue Read