A NEW school building created to help cope with the demand for class places in Portishead has been officially opened.

The Bishop of Taunton, the Right Reverend Peter Maurice, joined pupils, staff and friends of St Peter’s Primary School in a ceremony on October 1 which thanked everyone who had worked to deliver the £4.3million expansion on schedule and on budget.

The school has been serving the town for the past 200 years and headteacher Sharon Roberts said she hopes it will continue to do so for the next 200.

During the ceremony, a slide show of the Halletts Way school through the ages was followed by performances from the school’s major choir, drama group and Taiko drummers. Children also talked about how much they are enjoying the new building and refurbished school.

Mrs Roberts said: “We moved to our current site in 1994 and in 2005 we became a 420-place school. This year we have become a 630-place primary school and this service marks the next exciting stage of our journey.

“We currently have 510 children on site and will grow over the next four years to capacity.”

The development has included creating a new sports field and playground, refurbishment of the reception and early years classes, a new library area and car park, as well as the upgrading of the computer network, IT equipment and external doors. The construction of the Pier Building - a two-storey extension carried out by Willmott Dixon - has provided nine new classrooms and a hall that can seat 530 children.

The existing building, now called the Harbour Building, was also redesigned and refurbished.

Mrs Roberts added: “We now have superb facilities which will enhance the learning and opportunities we provide for all of our children.”