A primary school has opened its doors at their brand new site this week, complete with its own rooftop playground.

Excited pupils at St John’s Church of England Primary School in Watford town centre now have a three-storey school to learn in after they moved from their temporary site in Estcourt Road.

The new school has been built on the site of the former Barclays bank and head teacher Helen Langeveld is delighted with the new school.

Watford Observer:

The dining/sports hall

Year 1 and 2 pupils began yesterday with new reception pupils moving in tomorrow. Each year will grow by two forms of entry and eventually the school will have a capacity of 420.

The Clarendon Road site is a stones throw away from their former temporary building around the corner. However they are now equipped with fourteen classrooms, two halls for dining, sports, and social activities, a library, a cookery room, a godly playroom, as well as a two playgrounds; one being on the rooftop.

The astroturf space provides the perfect setting for ball and sports games with fencing and netting for complete safety and no flying sports equipment.

Ms Langeveld, who moved to St John’s when it started up, said she was thrilled with the final outcome.

She said: “It has been a hectic summer but it has been worth it and I am absolutely thrilled for the pupils. It feels an honour to be here too. The school has been designed to meet the children’s needs and with everything we have got here, it is a complete school. I’m delighted that we have planted the seeds together to grow a school.”

Watford Observer:

Pupils at St John's are happy with the move

Cllr Rabi Martins, chairman of Watford Borough Council, and governor at St John’s said: “To have a school of this calibre is incredible. We set a challenge and we have been able to do what we set out to do. Watford is a small town but it is a growing town. We had an idea to build a new bigger school and we have been able to do it.

“I want to extend my thanks to Father David Stephenson, vicar at St John’s Church, who came up with this idea and made it happen.”

St John’s, which is a C of E school open to families of all faiths and none, is one of a number of free schools which was chosen as part of a government programme to build new schools. It is governed by its own single trust.

Scroll through the picture gallery above for more pictures from the new school