YESTERDAY Sholing students celebrated the official opening of the fifty-first school to join Oasis Academy.

Students welcomed local supporters and dignitaries to a special community reception to commemorate the opening of Oasis Academy Sholing.

Oasis founder Rev Steve Chalke MBE was the guest of honour at the ceremony and cut the ribbon along with a few pupils and the school's headteacher Martin Brown.

Mr Brown said: "Today is an exciting day for our school community, students, teachers and staff alike.

"Oasis Academy Sholing builds on firm foundations, and together we move forward with enthusiasm and excitement for the future development of the Academy.

"Our thanks to Steve for his inspirational address to the students, and for our many supporters in the local community who joined us for this important milestone."

This September the Sholing Technology College joined the Oasis Community Learning family of academies, alongside the existing Oasis academies in the city, Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill and Oasis Academy Mayfield.

After the community reception, Rev Steve Chalke addressed the student body at special assemblies on what it means to be an Oasis academy.

Steve said: “What a privilege and an honour it has been to join the students of Oasis Academy Sholing for the opening today today.

"Over thirty years ago when my wife and I began the Oasis charity with transforming vision for communities, I would not have allowed myself to imagine that one day I would be at the opening of our fifty-first academy.”