WITH newly sharpened pencils, dazzling-white shirts pressed and books at the ready, Winchester school children looked on proudly as part of their new super school was officially unveiled.

Pupils at Hampshire’s first all-through school, which takes in children from aged four to 16, Westgate School welcomed prospective parents, county councillors and even the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire Nigel Atkinson.

The newly developed lower school, which will provide an extra 420 primary school places for Winchester children, includes 14 new classrooms, two libraries, as well as a large hall which can be separated into a music room and gymnasium, which opened to the first set of reception pupils in September.

Mr Atkinson paid tribute to the children, unveiling a shiny new plaque, before the plethora of uniform-clad scholars gave tours and handed out drinks and canapés around the site.

He said: “I think it’s absolutely stunning and it’s a great example of what can be done in Hampshire. As it’s the first all-through school it’s a wonderful achievement. The thing that surprises me is the sheer number of places that the county requires and the facilities they have built here are quite stunning. I think the design is good.

"It’s very bright and airy and very modern. Even down to the little touches – look at the blinds on the outside of the windows, to stop the rooms from overheating – little things like that to help the children more comfortable and pay more attention to what they learn.”

Lower school leader Stuart Adlam added: “It’s great to mark the opening of the school and it’s the very start of our journey. It’s not until 2020 that the school will be absolutely full but we’ve got a fantastic facility for our lower and secondary pupils as well. There are lots of really flexible teaching spaces as well which allows us to adapt.”

The school, which cost around £7.5million to develop, forms part of Hampshire County Council’s £15million investment into primary school places.

During his speech council leader, Cllr Roy Perry, said: “Finding sites for the new buildings required to meet the additional places in Winchester was a challenge for the officers – locations for new primary schools are not easy to find, especially in popular cities.

"We then realised that our separate plans to withdraw from boarding provision here offered a perfect opportunity to create a site for a new building. It was evident from our strategic planning that the additional pupils were living in the heart of the city and I was delighted when the Westgate School responded so positively to our need.

"They embraced the concept of a primary phase being added to this already successful school.

“It is great to see this new lower school building completed and the children enjoying their spacious and inspirational surroundings. I know they will thrive at Westgate School.”