Papamoa College is officially opening its senior building after construction was completed at the end of last year.

Bay of Plenty MP Tony Ryall officially opened the school's senior building this week, along with the Kaka Street Special School satellite class on campus.

Bay of Plenty MP Tony Ryall speaks with students from Papamoa College. Photos: supplied.

Principal Steve Lindsey says the building was blessed at the end of last year on its completion, but its official opening was Nga Potiki iwi members, parents, staff and the students' chance to celebrate it.

'The idea was to have an opening further into the year because it just means that when we do it, we've been in it, it looks lived, it looks used and the students can show people around and that's exactly what's going to happen.”

The building can house the entire senior school of 240 Year 11-12 students, and Steve says it has been future-proofed to allow for a further 120 students expected when the school enrols Year 13 students next year.

Complete with an art and science centre, open space and closed classrooms, a media digital suite and office spaces, the building is designed to suit senior students learning, says Steve.

MP Tony Ryall cuts the ribbon to officially open Kaka Street Special School's satellite class on Papamoa College grounds.

'It's quite good having a space dedicated to seniors because they are different and they've got a different type of learning, NCEA and assessments is one of them.

'It is state-of-the-art. It meets the green-star, five-star rating just like the rest of our buildings. And we've got solar panels on the roof and it collects the water for the toilets.”

Although it is designed specifically for the senior school, the building can be used by middle-school students too.

This is not the only excitement for Year 11-12 students this week, after the introduction of a new senior uniform.

The school also opened the Kaka Street Special School satellite class, which provides a learning space for students with special educational needs.

Steve says there are about five teachers who will be working within the satellite class, which has a current roll of 10 students.

'Even though they are a school within a school, they pretty much are at Papamoa College…they are part of the campus,” says Steve, who expects about 20 students with disabilities to enrol in the next few years.

MP Tony Ryall officially opens Papamoa College's senior building.