PUPILS have proudly showed off their new classroom at an opening ceremony with special guests.

Year six children at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Primary School in Richmond have spent the last term using the school’s main hall as a classroom while the new room was built – and were excited about moving into their new accommodation last week.

Headteacher Jill Collins said: “We had been using a temporary classroom unit, which was separate to the main school building, for some years so we were delighted to be able to build a new room for our year six class.

“The new building is connected to the main building so children do not have to go outside to get to it, and the class is very excited about moving in as they have been working in the main hall this term which has not been ideal for them.

“We had The Right Reverend Bishop Terence Drainey of Middlesbrough Diocese to officially open the classroom for us, as we got some funding from the diocese for the project.”

Mrs Collins added: “The children are very proud of their new classroom, which has a new interactive television to work with, and some other new equipment.”

Bishop Drainey said: "It is always a joy to visit the schools in the diocese to celebrate with them.

“The new classroom at St Mary's in Richmond looks great and is a positive addition to the school.

“It is always so uplifting to bless a new school or classroom extension because the children are so welcoming and appreciative."