EXCITED children and teachers have celebrated the opening of a new £869,000 primary school building, complete with the latest green technology and new facilities.

Barons Court Primary School, in Westcliff, unveiled its school facilities to a trumpet fanfare. The new building includes two open-plan learning areas to replace classrooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen, a community library and a main hall.

The project was funded by Southend Council which gave the school an £868,000 grant.

Claire Lobley, school office manager, said: “The whole school has been transformed.

“It is a really eco-friendly building and has created a lovely, light open space for the children.”

Demolition on the old school building began in August 2009 and children were able to move into part of the new school last November, before building work was finally completed a month ago.

Pupils will take part in a series of workshops with landscape designers to create playground equipment to complete the development.

Jane Theadom, who works in the children and learning department at Southend Council, cut the ribbon for the new building with Year 3 pupil Susie Simpson.

Mrs Lobley added: “We have a kitchen now called the Orchard bistro. All our food used to be sent pre cooked. Now we can start to make some delicious food.

“We were able to organise our seventh annual art festival to link in with the opening, so as family and friends were being shown the art on display they could have a look around the new building.”

The opening celebrations were completed with key stage one teacher Phil Andrews playing the ukulele to entertain staff and pupils.