The new £4.6 million Croxteth Community Primary School and child development centre has opened in Liverpool.

The event was attended by guests including the Shadow Secretary for Education, Stephen Twigg MP, Liverpool's Cabinet member for education Jane Corbett and the Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend James Jones.

The ceremony saw the children from the school’s choir perform a musical presentation called ‘One Planet Future’ before guests enjoyed a tour of the newly completed building.

The single storey school building has been designed by the city council’s joint venture partner 2020 Liverpool, with classrooms arranged around three central courtyards, each of which has direct access to outdoor play areas.

At the start of work on the site, Morgan Sindall held a ground-breaking ceremony and pupils planted a time-capsule which will be opened in 50 years, reminding future generations of students of the significance of the day.

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The school includes a library, art and music rooms, a synthetic area for sport and games, a large community room and a crèche. There will be an allotment for growing vegetables, playing fields with a green tarmac artificial grass MUGA pitch and space for children to eat outside.

Councillor Jane Corbett, cabinet member for education, said: "The new school has transformed education for children in the area and is also a brilliant facility for the whole community to use. It is an absolutely fantastic asset for Croxteth and, combined with the already excellent teaching at the school, is giving a bright future to hundreds of young people."

A key feature of the building is its attractive and sustainable 'green roof', which has been planted with vegetation to absorb rainwater and provide insulation. The school will also be heated using ground source energy and is planned to achieve a BREEAM rating of 'Very Good'.

Barry Roberts, Morgan Sindall's area director for Liverpool, said: "We have thoroughly enjoyed working closely with the school and Liverpool City Council to create this fantastic state-of-the-art learning environment which pupils will benefit from and enjoy for many years to come.

"The innovative sustainable elements of the school will not only enhance the children’s learning experience but also benefit the environment, and we are delighted to be on track to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’ for this project. This development will provide a superb learning and recreational facility for the school and the local community and we are delighted to be celebrating the hand over of the project to the school with this special ceremony."

(CD)