Elmgreen School has finally moved into their brand new school buildings and I was honoured to take part in the official opening ceremony. The new buildings are a stunning home to the country’s first – and so far only – parent promoted secondary school.

That means local parents, with support from their Labour council, took the lead in setting the school up, appointing the head teacher, choosing the design and deciding what the school would be like.

The new buildings are built around a central market square concept which is quite breathtaking when you first walk into it. The facilities in the school are state-of-the-art including technology centres, a beautiful and well equipped library, a performance space, dance and recording studios, top quality sports facilities and high-tech classrooms with all the latest digital equipment. Outside school hours many of these facilities are available for community use.

I was delighted to be part of the official opening of the new school. I joined parents, teachers and students to celebrate the wonderful new building the school’s just moved into after spending the past two years in a former primary school.

Popular local MP Tessa Jowell was there to welcome the strong partnership between the community, the Labour Government and the Labour Council that’s brought the dream of this unique new school to life.

(Top right) Cllr Steve Reed, Tessa Jowell MP and students at the opening of the new school buildings.  (Above) the new school's stunning 'market square' area.