Diver and broadcaster Monty Halls is to open a sixth form centre at The John Bentley School in Calne.

The former Royal Marines officer, who presents the Channel 5 documentary Great Ocean Adventures, will open the £700,000 centre at 2.45pm on Monday.

Students have been involved from the start on creating the new centre which includes a common room, four self study rooms, kitchen and open library.

Headteacher Gordon Trafford said: “Post 16 provision at The John Bentley School is clearly going from strength to strength in terms of results and the number of students going on to advanced courses.

“This wonderful new building is the icing on the cake of these exciting developments.”

Since the school moved on to its current site ten years ago, sixth formers have used a small common room to relax and study between lessons.

A project team was set up two years ago and building began last year.

Students were involved from the outset and were on the selection panel which chose the Bailey Partnership as consultant.

Project partner Philip Stuart-Harris said: “This was a first in my experience and highly commendable, demonstrating the school’s commitment to involving students in shaping their own learning environment.”

He added: “We very much enjoyed working with the school to deliver what is a stimulating, high quality environment for students to work and socialise.

At present there are 150 sixth formers at the school.

By 2013 it is expected that the centre will accommodate up to 190 sixth formers.