THE five year-long wait was over as teachers, pupils and invited guests celebrated the official opening of its 21st century school on Friday (21st June).

"Today is the realisation of a dream," headteacher Vaughan Davies said as the Lord Lieutenant, Brigadier Robert Aitken CBE, and the head boy and girl of the school unveiled a commemorative plaque, marking a new start for the school and its pupils.

But Monmouth Comprehensive School knows how to party and pupils contributed to an afternoon of entertainment with song, music and stage craft.

The school orchestra welcomed guests with music followed by speeches by head girl and boy, Emily Shields and Luke Rogers.

Introducing Year 13 vocalist Ella Young, the head teacher had to assure guests that she was not a professional singer that had been drafted in but a student who had just finished her A-levels, "although she seemed to have ’lost’ her uniform for the last few weeks," he said smiling.

Her voice always stirred the crowd and the school will be the poorer for losing her to what must be a promising professional career.

A short film was then played, in which pupils and staff shared what they felt made Monmouth Comprehensive unique. The film, made by Year 10 students Charlotte Painter and Mason Rugen-Hankey, will also be shown as part of the school’s representation at an international conference in Denmark in the autumn.

Year 10 drama students performed a silent look at school life and the plaque unveiling preceded a flash mob of students, currently practising for their next production of ’High Street Musical’.

The school has been nominated for eight prestigious awards. It was successful in winning the Digital Innovation Award at the Constructing Excellence in Wales Awards. The school and project team were delighted to receive Project of the Year award at the Education Buildings Wales Awards, which recognise and showcases fantastic design and build of schools, colleges and universities across Wales.

Cllr Richard John, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "I am so proud of each and every member of the teaching team, building team and local authority who have gone over and above to make Monmouth Comprehensive a fantastic facility for our learners.

"It is so pleasing to see the school and its ethos being recognised for such esteemed awards, as an innovative forward thinking school. Monmouthshire and Wales can be enormously proud of what has been achieved.’

Paying tribute to deputy head Tim Bird, Mr Vaughan added: "The entire community owes an enormous debt of gratitude to Tim and everything he has done to further education in Wales and beyond."