YOUNGSTERS at a primary school just yards from Sir Winston Churchill's grave have been given more space to learn with the opening of a striking new extension.

Bladon Primary School celebrated the opening of its new classroom with a visit from the Bishop of Dorchester.

The £78,000 project, which was completed in November, has been welcomed by parents and pupils as the original school building had become increasingly crowded.

Board of governors vice-chairman Bob Taylor said: "The original building dates to more than 150 years ago.

"It is a listed building and has to be treated with care.

"We employed architect Keith Durham from KD Design and he did a super job in designing it.

"It has a beautiful gothic window for us, we had a pretty miserable French door before that was not in keeping with the rest of the building.

"This wonderful gothic window really suits the building, which is important as you can see it from Churchill's grave."

The 86-pupil school hosted a day of celebrations to mark the official opening of the new classroom on January 12.

Mr Taylor said the children had particularly enjoyed the visit from the Bishop, the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher.

He said: "The Bishop did everything extremely well.

"He did a great talk about his dress in terms of what a bishop wears.

"He put it on one piece at a time and explained what each piece is.

"Lots of parents turned up as well and the Friends of Bladon School did an excellent tea afterwards with plenty of cake.

"It was a jolly good day."

The school – which was endowed by the wife of the seventh Duke of Marlborough in 1858 – was rated good following its last inspection by Ofsted in 2014.

It has been slowly expanding following population growth in the area, creating the need for the new classroom.

Headteacher Tracey Fletcher said pupils had the chance to help set up the new classroom after building work was completed.

She said: "The kids love it, they like the extra space.

"It is a beautiful extension, we know it has been extended but it does not necessarily look like that to the naked eye.

"It gives the children so much more room.

"I am absolutely delighted with it and I think it will serve the school well for generations to come."

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