PUPILS and teachers held a ceremony to celebrate the ­official opening of a £15million school.

Deputy leader of ­Inverclyde Council Jim Clocherty joined the 600 youngsters at St Columba's High to cut the ribbon on their new home.

As previously reported in the Evening Times, the pupils had been housed in temporary accommodation, in the former Greenock High School, for four years before they moved into their new building in Gourock.

The move to develop the former Gourock High School, in Fletcher Avenue, is part of a £210m education shake-up.

A special event - ­including a guided tour - was held yesterday to mark the opening.Head teacher Jim Docherty said: "We had a fantastic day.

"There was entertainment from our music department and we had speakers.We enjoyed having Councillor Clocherty here to open our new home."

Mr Docherty said the young people who ­attended the school were enjoying putting their roots down.

The current sixth year students have now attended three St Columba's buildings during their time at school.

They were in the last intake at the old building at Bayhill, which is now the site of Clydeview Academy.

He said: "The pupils have already settled into their new school building.

"Our head boy actually said that in his speech to the pupils today.

"He said the move had been seamless."

As part of the new features to the development, there is an additional floor to the main building and a new wing.

Visitors can enter through an atrium, which has both lift and stair access and leads to the school's reception desk on the first floor.

A fully equipped fitness suite, a gymnasium and a 4G all-weather football pitch is also attracting pupils' attention.

Mr Docherty said: "You could hold a Champions League match here, the pitch is that good.

"The pupils are really taken with it and the other sporting facilities.

"As well as that, we have cutting-edge labs, technology facilities and the whole building is wireless-enabled, so everyone can use the ­internet wherever they are."

Labour councillor Mr Clocherty, who is a former pupil of the school, when it was based at Bayhill, said: "The day was absolutely fantastic.

"I know it is a refurbished school but it's basically a brand new build because it has such great facilities.

"I really enjoyed listening to the head boy and girl speak.

"They are very much used to packing and unpacking but they just get on with it.

"You can tell it's a school that has a community feel to it.

"They are all very close and the school ethos is about staying together.

"They've taken to the new site like ducks to water."

rachel.loxton@eveningtimes.co.uk