The Archbishop of York officially launched Bradford's second city academy with the words: "We have lift off!"

Dr John Sentamu unveiled a plaque and led a celebration ceremony to mark the occasion.

The £25 million Teasdale Street school opened its doors for the first time last September and has since proved an unqualified success.

Eight months on, more than 1,100 pupils are now on roll at the school which is sponsored by the Diocese of Bradford and community action charity Toc H.

Speaking yesterday, Dr Sentamu said: "It is an amazing academy. The students are so welcoming - I think it's brilliant. The word I want to use is not fantastic or fabulous - but fantabulous!

"Today is a day of tremendous optimism. Young people are facing unprecedented challenges. But education is about finding a way out of all the intractable problems of the world. Children should be an example to adults."

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Robin Owens, Kath Tunstall, the Council's director of services for children and young people, and other VIPs were give a guided tour of the new school alongside the Archbishop.

Pupils sang and danced for the guests in the academy's new state-of-the-art theatre.

Academy principal Gareth Dawkins said: "We are really excited. I am pretty impressed with how many people have come along today!

"Archbishop Sentamu was amazing - the children were pretty excited about meeting him. It's a massive compliment that he should choose to come."

Mr Dawkins said he had already set the school's Year 7 pupils the target of achieving GCSE results on a par with the top five per cent of similar schools across the country. He wants at least 60 per cent of current 11 and 12-year-olds at the school to achieve five top-grade passes.

Giving his verdict on the new academy, former Bradford Community Cathedral College pupil Reece Coulson, 14, said: "The facilities are good and the behaviour has changed. People behave now."

Carla Sutcliffe, 11, added: "Dr Sentamu has been really friendly and funny! The new school is great - Year 7 children even have their own playground!"