Gateshead council, the Education Funding Agency (EFA) and the contractor Sir Robert McAlpine have completed a £4.4m rebuild at an Arts College in Gateshead.

The Hill Top Specialist Arts College rebuild was part of the government's Priority School Building Programme (PSBP).

The school's existing building has been completely rebuilt as part of the government's £2.4bn PSBP to address 260 of the schools in England in the worst condition.

Hill Top is one of 32 schools being rebuilt across the North East of England under the PSBP – five school projects are already complete and are open, with four more currently under construction.

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Schools Minister David Laws said: "The official opening of the new building for Hill Top Specialist Arts College in Gateshead is a fantastic achievement. This is the fifth school in the North East to open as part of the Priority School Building Programme.

"Delivering great new schools will help to build a stronger economy and a fairer society so that every young person can get on in life. Vital building work is taking place at schools in the worst state across the country.

"We are making excellent progress with 14 school buildings now complete and all 260 schools projects due for completion by the end of 2017."

An event was held today, Friday, to mark the official opening of the school. The rebuild was completed in just over 11 months.

(CD/JP)