Balloons go up as £3m Bishop Hooper School opens

The £3 million Bishop Hooper School in Ashford Carbonell, near Ludlow, officially opened today – with staff describing the occasion as an 'amazing day'.

Children at the school held a mass balloon launch this morning ahead of their first lessons, with hundreds of green, purple and yellow balloons sent into the skies. Headteacher Kerri Phelps gave parents tours around the site.

The opening marks the end of two years of planning for the school.

It replaces the existing school in neighbouring Caynham, which pupils have used since the former primary schools in the two villages merged in 2009.

A coffee morning was also arranged with parents to help raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support charity.

Mrs Phelps, who took over as headteacher following the schools' merger in 2009, said: "It is just amazing.

"We have been working towards this for two years and everyone has had an input, including parents, pupils, governors and people living in the two communities.

"It is just an amazing day – I cannot believe it is happening.

"For the children this is an incredibly special day and we wanted to do something for them as they move into their new school.

"I know parents are desperate to have a look inside the new school, and rather than wait for our official opening in the new year we have decided to hold a coffee morning and show parents around in group," added Mrs Phelps.

The school has four classrooms, an amphitheatre which can be used for outdoor drama sessions, a grass sports pitch, an all-weather games area and a wildflower meadow and orchard.

Eco-friendly facilities include a biomass boiler with near zero carbon emissions.

Work has been carried out for several months by Stourport-on-Severn-based Thomas Vale Construction, and the finishing touches are still being made to parts of the grounds.

It is hoped an official opening ceremony will be held in the new year once all the work on site has been completed.

Bob Tilt, chairman of Ashford Carbonell Parish Council, has previously claimed villagers were 'delighted' with the school.

Parish councillors and the villagers were also given site tours during the construction of the new school buildings.