A CENTRE which serves the community and helps pupils back to lessons has opened at a pioneering school.

The Reach Out centre at the Priory School, Tintagel Road, Orpington, was officially opened by members of the school's Student Voice forum.

It is a referral centre for pupils having problems in mainstream education, such as those with medical conditions.

Young people from across the Orpington area attend the facility.

Deputy headteacher Neil Miller says attendance in the school phobic group, which includes pupils out of school for three years, is 100 per cent.

He said: "The centre works because it is a comfortable, encouraging environment where pupils feel safe, meet people with similar personalities and can discuss things going on in their lives."

The Priory is the pilot for the borough's extended school scheme.

It is working with partners to provide services for pupils and the wider community.

Many of the partners will use the centre.

These include the police, who hold one-stop surgeries there.