By Pam McClounie

Last updated at 16:10, Friday, 21 September 2012

A secondary school in Carlisle is preparing for its first Royal visit.

Duke of Kent

The Queen’s cousin, the Duke of Kent, will visit Trinity School next month to see its £20m rebuild.

Alan Mottershead, headteacher at Trinity School in Strand Road, said: “After a tour of some of the new facilities, the Duke of Kent will declare the rebuilt school open.

“He will meet staff and pupils and be able to sample a few lessons in our lovely new facilities.

“He will be introduced to the partners in the project: Border Construction, the Diocese of Carlisle, the local authority and the governors of the school.

“Trinity School has not had a royal visit before and we are delighted that His Royal Highness will be able to join us. In the evening there will be a gala dinner for us to celebrate together what we have achieved so far.”

In 2005, when the floods hit Carlisle, Trinity School had 1,950 pupils. Afterwards it was agreed as part of a general education review to reduce the size of the school to 1,500 pupils and create schools of broadly similar size across the district.

Mr Mottershead added: “We have achieved our goal of turning an urban site into a semi-rural one, with a revived landscape, including the beginnings of the planting of a community orchard.

“While we have much still to do, for our sixth form centre and for sports, we are thrilled with what has been achieved over a long time frame with a limited budget, and the continued smooth running and success of the school.

“More to the point, so are the pupils and their families.

“The celebratory feel of the project’s completion in 2012 makes us feel that calling the central new space Jubilee Hall would be a fitting ceremony for the heart of the new school.”

The Duke’s visit, on Tuesday, October 2, also includes a visit to the Regimental Museum at Carlisle Castle.

First published at 13:49, Friday, 21 September 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk