CBeebies' Cerrie to open Woodfield School's new sixth form block

The excitement is building at Woodfield School, as staff and pupils prepare for the official opening of their new sixth form block and therapy centre by CBeebie's presenter Cerrie Burnell.

Burnell, who is a new addition to the CBeebies team, will be unveiling a plaque to mark the special occasion at 2pm on Tuesday 23 June.  She will then be presented with flowers from some of the children before taking tea with parents, governors and students from the sixth form and Year 11.

Joining the celebrations will be the Mayor of Brent, Councillor Jim O'Sullivan and his wife Mary, who is a governor at the Kingsbury school which caters for children with special educational needs.  They will be accompanied by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Harbhajan Singh, who is also a member of Woodfield's governing body.

The new building itself, which was actually completed in February 2008 at a cost £1.1 million, is comprised of two floors which serve very different purposes.

The ground floor is a learning and study centre for Year 12 and 13 students who stay on beyond 16 years old to complete courses in literacy, numeracy and ICT.  All of the courses are linked to life skills, have a vocational slant and are aimed at instilling independence and collaboration in the young people.

This floor also has a large common room for sixth former's use, along with a teaching and kitchen area and ICT suite.

The upstairs of the building houses Woodfield's therapy centre - housing a dance studio, sensory room, intervention room and medical room - which the whole school can use.

Pupils take part in sessions with the full time speech and language therapist and a drama therapist is also based at the therapy centre two days a week.  A councillor is also on-hand for the students for one and a half days a week.

Head teacher, Desi Lodge-Patch, says: "We are all delighted that Cerrie Burnell has agreed to officially open our sixth form block.  As a TV presenter with a disability, she is a really great role model for the children and she has a lot of fans here. We can't wait to meet her."

Lead Member for Children and Families, Councillor Bob Wharton, says: "This centre is a fantastic resource for the children that will really enhance their learning and development and give the sixth formers the all-important skills they will need to lead independent lives.  I hope the opening day is a terrific success that the whole school enjoys."

Cerrie Burnell will officially open Woodfield School's sixth form block and therapy centre at 2pm on Tuesday 23 June.