A celebration was held at Stockwell Primary School recently to mark the official opening of the school's new classrooms and nursery.

Jamaican born children's author Valerie Bloom MBE joined Lambeth Mayor Councillor Clive Bennett, project architects, the contractors and the school community at the event.

Under the £3.3m Government funded and Lambeth Council administered expansion, the school in Stockwell Road has had nine brand new classrooms and the nursery added. Old and out of date buildings were demolished to make way for the scheme.

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The school's existing Victorian building was also improved and has been linked to the new modern glass and steel housed classrooms via bright and airy internal walkways.

Cllr Heywood said: "I'm delighted that Stockwell Primary School has these fantastic new classrooms, a new nursery and refurbished building meaning the children are benefitting from a much improved learning environment.

"In Lambeth we are desperately short of primary places so really welcome the completion of this scheme which will add an extra class to each year group at this outstanding school."

The school has been expanded several times in the past with brownfield sites bought up and added, including 15 houses and street Garden Row in the 1970s, which were used to make the playground bigger.

Because of the small size of the school site Lambeth Council decided buy a neighbouring building so the latest expansion could go ahead. The important £2.8m purchase in 2007 was a key step in allowing work on the plan to start in February last year. The project was completed in August this year.

(CD/GK)