AN AMBITIOUS million-pound expansion project – thought to be the first of its kind in the country – has been opened at the county's most over-subscribed school.

The Duke of Gloucester cut the ribbon on the £1.1m Olympic wing at St John’s C of E Primary in Buckhurst Hill on Tuesday (July 17), in front of more than 200 guests.

Headteacher Peter Tidmarsh said: "The Duke was delighted to come back after five years and see our improvements. I took him on a tour of the wing and showed him our new astroturf, and then we had an unveiling and a speech."

The four-floor building – boasting six new classrooms, group rooms, offices and sports storage – has been created to cater for the school's growing student body, which will balloon from 350 to 450 over the next six years.

St John's was judged 'outstanding' by Ofsted when last inspected in 2007 and is the most oversubscribed in the county - a fact Mr Tidmarsh puts down to its traditional values.

He said: “We’re not old fashioned, but we offer a good, traditional education that rivals any independent school.

“I think that’s why we’re so popular.”

The ceremony marked the end of a one-year construction project – the first in Essex to be managed entirely by the school itself.

The High Road school received £1.88m from Essex County Council, but was given free rein to choose how to run the project and to select builders and craftsmen.

“We are told it could even be the first of its kind within the country,” said Mr Tidmarsh.

“Normally when local authorities give money for school expansion, the authority project manages the expansion.

“But we asked for it and we have a good track record for building developments. It’s gone very well and we’re now all moved in.”

The school is now planning to work with St John's Church to renovate the interior of the Grade II-listed church building, allowing both pupils and worshippers to use it throughout the week.