THE Countess of Wessex has formally opened the Aspire Vocational Centre at St Mary’s School and College, Bexhill.

The royal guest looked at other developments at the school including the assessment and interim placement centre and newly refurbished classrooms.

The countess met pupils, staff and governors and had lunch in the Aspire centre café.

Consultant principal Amanda Clugston said: “All the pupils and staff were very excited by the countess’s visit with some very special moments made which they will treasure.”

The centre is a unique “shopping mall” which includes a café, car wash, store and hairdressers among other units that offer vocational, academic, employment and social skills training for children who have speech and language difficulties and other complex needs.