AN ALVESTON school has welcomed the new academic year with the opening of a dedicated area for their year seven students.

To celebrate the newly refurbished, purpose designed HIVE building at Marlwood School, and to ease the new starters in, year seven were joined by their parents for a welcome day for a day of activities and fun.

Coinciding with the upcoming theme of author Roald Dahl’s 100th birthday, students took part in a number of task, including some detective work to orienteer around the site, challenging English quizzes, science experiments and food technology to explore their new curriculum and engage the imagination.

Another group began researching names for the rooms in the HIVE building, with the shortlist going to a vote among the whole year, eventually deciding on a series of inspirational figures from history - Ada Lovelace, Nicholas Winton, Amelia Earhart and Mary Seacole.

A spokesman from the school said: “We are delighted and proud to have the rooms named after these inspirational and most deserving champions for our students to aspire to.

“Throughout the day students rose to the challenge, being celebrated in the first day final assembly.

“We were also very happy to welcome the parents, who were able to share in the successes with their children.”