It’s not every day a Royal prince drops into your secondary school for a look round and a spot of lunch.

But it was business as usual at Medway University Technical College where the Duke of York, Prince Andrew performed the official opening ceremony.

While the fifth-in-line to the throne was given a tour of the new-style vocational college focusing on engineering, construction and design,pupils carried on lessons as normal at the UTC at the Chatham Waters regeneration site.

The prince is patron of The Baker Dearing Educational Trust which was created to promote technical colleges across the country.

Among the guests ,who watched him unveil a commemorative plaque was Lord Baker, who co-founded the trust.

Also at the reception on Tuesday was former Medway council leader Rodney Chambers who mooted the idea of a UTC for Medway five years ago.

Cllr Chambers, said: “ I remember being at a civic function and the discussion came up about UTCs, I recalled how we used to have technical schools and they were badly needed because a lot of businesses could not get the skills, particularly in engineering and manufacturing.

“I just thought, let’s go for it.

“I’m a glass half full man and not a glass half empty. We had a bit of a rocky ride getting it through, but I never gave up.

“Today is a very satisfying day for me.”

The prince was greeted by principal Dr Karon Buck who introduced him to Paul Charman, chairman of governors, Alan Reed, chairman of the UTC steering group, head girl Rebecca Driver and head boy Ryan Robin, both aged 16.

He was then shown round the purpose-built £11.4 million building which took in its first intake of 200 year 10 and 12 students in September last year.

The prince spent an hour chatting and joking with pupils in the engineering and construction workshops and the computer and science skills department.

He then unveiled the plaque in the atrium with Lord Baker.

Dr Buck, said: “Having the Duke of Kent coming to officiate our formal opening is a real accolade for everyone involved with Medway UTC.

“Prince Andrew is an advocate of technical education and a supporter of young people who aspire to be successful in engineering, construction and design. I am very grateful that he is giving his time in support of Medway UTC.”

Head girl Rebecca, a former Hundred of Hoo School pupil. wants to be a quantity surveyor.

She said: “ I love it here because we take on work-like responsibilities and get valuable work experience. When I started in September there were kids from 40 different schools. But we are here to support each other and we are now one massive family.I feel as though we have all grown up.

“I’d like to see more girls here. But those of us here are leading the way and take any comments we get on the chin.”

Rob Gladden, 16, said the work and teaching ethos was very different from Chatham Boys Grammar where he took his GCSEs.

Rob,who lives in Meopham, said: “Coming from a grammar school it was strict, which is good. I am academic,but I am very much into visual learning. I came here to study traditional engineering, but it has opened my mind and I’m looking at interior design.

“You are treated with independence and respect which will make the transition from education to work far more easier.”

The Department for Education granted permission for the go-ahead in 2012 after the initial bid failed. Purchase of the 26-acre site at Chatham Maritime was agreed in January 2014 and Medway councilors granted planning permission the following July.