A £26million Camden school building two-and-a-half years in the making was brought one step closer to completion as students, staff, governors and councillors saw the structure completed.

Regent High School, in Charrington Street, Somers Town, held a traditional “topping out” ceremony – an event to commemorate a building’s completion – to mark the beginning of the final phase of works.

The main building will include a theatre with professional lighting and staging, a music room, recording studio and a science suite.

Headteacher Rosemary Leeke was joined by leader of Camden Council, Cllr Sarah Hayward, the council’s chief executive, Mike Cooke, cabinet member for children, Cllr Angela Mason, and cabinet member for young people, Cllr Nasim Ali, at the ceremony last Thursday.

Students and staff, who are currently housed in temporary classrooms, are due to move in to the new building in early spring.

Ms Leeke said: “We are delighted to celebrate this important point on the journey to the completion of the new Regent High School.

“We are very much looking forward to using our new building and to our students learning in the magnificent surroundings.”