STAFF at Newport's new £28 million school are preparing to open its doors to pupils after the keys were handed over to the council yesterday.

Keys for Newport’s new school and leisure centre in Bettws were handed over to council leader councillor Matthew Evans ready for lessons to begin in a fortnight.

The keys were handed over by Steve Burgess from the construction company Leadbitter Group at 4pm in the new school’s reception.

Newport High School and the Active Living Centre will open to students and the public on Monday, November 9.

This is a much-needed replacement for Bettws Comprehensive School and will be home to 34 classrooms, eight science labs, eight ICT suites, a design technology wing, six special educational needs areas and a vocational training, learning and resource centre.

The landmark building will accommodate 1,100 pupils with potential for more students in the future.

The active living centre will have a 25m swimming pool, fitness suite, multi-games area and sports pitches which will be open to the community outside school hours.

Cllr Evans said he thought the school would offer generations of children the best education environment.

Newport High School is the first project in the city’s major secondary schools redevelopment programme.

Its opening will be marked with the Big Weekend in Bettws which will provide free family activities on November 14 and 15.