NEWPORT’S newest secondary school opened its doors to welcome city council chiefs yesterday.

Council leader Matthew Evans and cabinet members stopped by to see how work was progressing at Llanwern High, near Ringland.

The £29 million state-of-the-art school replaces Hartridge High School and will officially open its doors after Easter.

The 1,450-space school will have a 90-seat lecture theatre, music room, an Apple Mac suite and the first 3G artificial grass surface pitch in Newport.

Cllr Evans said the new high-quality, contemporary facilities would offer youngsters the best education environment and help ensure they reach their full potential.

Cabinet member for education and young people, Cllr David Atwell, said the community would also benefit as locals would have access to the 3G pitch as well as other onsite facilities.

Llanwern High is the second secondary school to be completed under the city’s major secondary school redevelopment programme, following Newport High School in Bettws, which opened in 2009.

Hartridge High School was spread over three buildings, which had fallen into disrepair and were lacking disabled access.

The new building, which was awarded an excellent rating for sustainability, has already been selected as a demonstration project by Constructing Excellence under the themes of sustainability, procurement and consultation.

● Former pupils and staff are being offered a last chance to visit Hartridge High School before it closes.

A Farewell to Hartridge event is being held at 3.30pm on March 30.

It will include a Newport County display; Stage Struck dancers; drama and choir performances and trade stands.

The event will culminate at around 6.30pm with a balloon launch and auction of school memorabilia.