A new Bristol secondary school is making sure its first principal is not forgotten – by naming its new buildings after him.

When the £22 million academy premises at Hengrove open in 2011, they will be known as Oasis Academy John Williams.

The lasting tribute was announced yesterday at a thanksgiving service for Mr Williams, who died last month at the age of 40 after a heart attack.

He was appointed to head the academy, sponsored by the Christian charity Oasis, in 2007 and was at the helm when the school opened last September in the buildings of the former Hengrove Community Arts College.

His death in France, after he was taken ill while on a snowboarding weekend, shocked staff, students, parents and neighbours of the school.

But the community was urged at yesterday's event to take inspiration from Mr Williams and from what he had given to the school over the past two years.

Rebecca Clark, who has been acting principal since Mr Williams's death and has now been confirmed as the permanent principal, said the day was one of mixed emotions.

She told pupils, teachers and guests: "We have to ensure that in this tragedy we find opportunity and hope for the future. We must be energised by John's legacy. He will remain a stable figure in each of our lives and the bedrock of this academy.

"I know we will support each other. We will be the best academy in Bristol, a positive environment where laughter is a feature of every day and where learning is fun and standards are high."

Oasis founder, the Rev Steve Chalke, also paid tribute to Mr Williams, his widow Karen and children Noah, 11, Hope, nine, and Gabriel, seven. After the thanksgiving, he joined Mr Williams's children and academy students in launching balloons before holding a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the start of work on the new buildings.

Oasis first announced it wanted to sponsor an academy in Hengrove back in 2005.

Mr Chalke said: "We have dreamed of this academy for a very long time."

The school will specialise in visual and performing arts and the plans include a theatre, arts studio, dance studios, music recording studio, fitness suite, internet cafe and amphitheatre – all of which will be available for community use outside school hours.