The doors to a St Albans school’s new sixth form centre were proudly opened last Friday and were marked by the special appearance of a former pupil who worked on the Olympic Park.

Beaumont School, in Oakwood Drive, welcomed home Louise Hardy, who forged a highly successful career in engineering and was placed in charge of the development of the infrastructure for the London sporting development.

Headteacher Elizabeth Hitch said: “Louise commented on the quality, size and design of the new facility and its positive impact on current and future students.”

The pair unveiled a plaque at a ceremony to open the centre.

Paul de Kort, head of sixth form, commented on the improvement in individual learning the new centre offered: “We can now offer three separate, spacious learning environments for our large and growing sixth form body; in addition the communal areas are now dramatically improved.

“Students have already commented positively about the range and size of what we can now offer them.”