CREATIVE students are set to flourish after a Kendal school unveiled a newly-refurbished building.

The ribbon was cut on Kirkbie Kendal School's specialist Creative and Performing Arts centre in front of nearly 100 people and several local dignitaries.

The £850,000 refurbishment was first planned 18 months ago but only became a reality after the Department for Education agreed the funding.

It is hoped that the new facility, which includes GCSE and A-Level art rooms, computer stations and top-spec music facilities, will inspire more students to achieve their full potential, like budding musician Crispin Halcrow (CHECK), who appeared on BBC Introducing last week.

Headteacher Phil Hyman said: "It's phenomenally exciting and absolutely brilliant to have the facilities that match the quality of teaching here at Kirkbie Kendal School. The most important thing is the level of teaching that goes on inside the new rooms and the relationship with the students but now the staff and students both have the top facilities that they deserve.

In 2006, the Lound Road school became a specialist maths, business and computing school, but this latest development also shows a commitment to the arts.

Mr Hyman, who has been headteacher for 11 years, said: "We have always been good at art but this helps to elevate it. There's so much quality around the place and adding state of the art computer facilities within the refurbished building shows a focus on both fine art and new technology."

The grand opening was attended by Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Tim Farron, who cut the ribbon.

Tim said: "Kirkbie Kendal is a really important centre of the community because of what it does. It's a special centre of learning and it's great for South Lakeland and all the people around the area. This will give inspiration to young people and that could lead to something really great."

Head of art, Mark Buckland, thinks the facilities are a massive step-up.

He said: "When you consider what we were working with over the last 15 years the facilities were pretty dire. To experience things we never had before like weatherproofing and proper lighting is fantastic. We already had fantastic results but this makes it even better."