A NEW £250,000 expansion and news centre have been opened at a Highbridge's King Alfred School Academy sixth form.

Wells MP James Heappey opened the multi-room extension and Jill Dando News Centre and unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion.

Students between the ages of nine and 18 from Jill Dando News centres across The Priory Learning Trust (TPLT) attended.

The extension contains a restaurant area and coffee bar, a new lounge area, classrooms and independent study area.

The sixth form has been so successful that it has attracted an ever-expanding number of students from the local area, as well as Weston-super-Mare, Bridgwater and even Italy, Germany and Switzerland.

Mr Heappey said: "It is fantastic to see the sixth form at King Alfred School Academy so popular that the building needed to be extended.

"I remember so well meetings where closure was a real possibility.

"I may have made clear how against that I was, but the leadership at the school did such amazing work to make it such a brilliant option for students around Burnham and Highbridge."

Principal Dan Milford said: “Everyone is thrilled with these expanding facilities.

"There is a big buzz around the whole school and we continue to make things even better.

“There is now a dedicated study place and a social space, as well as a place for the Jill Dando News sixth form centre.”

Nathan Jenkins, chief executive of TPLT, said: “To see the expansion of the sixth form is really incredible.

“It is a really strong sixth form giving huge options to students to access the best universities, apprenticeships and jobs.”

Olivia Finch, one of the founding members of the Jill Dando News Centre, said: “Everyone is supportive of each other at this sixth form and of our aspirations.”

Nigel Dando, who helps train the reporters along with other professional journalists, attended the event alongside dozens of reporters from Jill Dando News.

The scheme now has over 100 reporters across Somerset with some in Malawi and even in Africa.

The centre is named in honour of Nigel's sister, BBC TV reporter Jill Dando, who was murdered on her doorstep in London in April 1999.