A traditional ceremony will take place later today marking the completion of the main building at the new £32m Melksham Oaks Secondary School.

Melksham Oaks, in Woolmore Farm, Bowerhill, will replace the George Ward School in Shurnhold as the town's only secondary school.

The traditional topping out ceremony, involving the placing of a tree at the highest point of the building, will take place at 11am today on the roof of Block C, which will house the learning resource centre, sixth form and ICT suites.

The tree will be placed onto the roof by Rob Williams, construction director for Cowlin Construction South West Division and Christine Deadman, chair of governors for George Ward School.

The new school, partly funded through a £20m government grant, will have space for 1,150 pupils aged 11 to 16, and a sixth form for a further 200 students.

Stephen Clark, headteacher at the George Ward School, said: “We are very excited that this brings the wonderful new school another step closer.

"This has involved an enormous amount of hard work for everyone and will provide a tremendous facility for the whole Melksham community.”

Christine Deadman, chair of governors, said: “This is a real achievement for the school and for the community that it serves. "We have been very lucky to have had so much support from our pupils, staff, local people. We really have built a school for the future.”

The school is set to be completed by spring 2010.