State-of-the art Appleton Academy officially opens its doors next Thursday even though its pupils moved in last November.

The Academy’s principal Helen Jones will lead the occasion with chairman of governors Richard Wightman welcoming special guest the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid M Roscoe.

Other guests will include Michele Sutton, principal and chief executive of Bradford College. The event will be made up of speeches, student-guided tours of the new Academy’s award winning new building in Woodside Road, Wyke, and a variety of student demonstrations including a climbing wall, auditorium, art, music and sport.