A HEADTEACHER has spoken of her delight after watching pupils start lessons at their new North Oxfordshire school this week.

Bletchingdon Primary School, in Station Road, Bletchingdon, opened its doors to children on Thursday after moving from its previous site this summer.

Plans for it were first considered back in 2008 to replace the previous school in Weston Road, with those involved admitting the journey to this point being a “long, hard slog”.

The school, along with a new village hall, cost £4m to build, with the community coming together to help meet the sum.

Headteacher Louise Hatton said: “There was so much excitement and the children were waiting, desperate for the gates to open up .

“We started the project with a completely blank canvas and it has been amazing for a small school like ours.”

Teachers came in over the summer to set up the new classrooms, including decorating them with pupils’ art, and prepare for lessons before pupils returned.

Mrs Hatton said: “The teaching staff have been brilliant and they have all gone beyond their duty.”

A total of 77 pupils are enrolled in the school, although there is capacity for 120 children to be taught there.

Funding for the project was provided by the Bletchington Community Foundation through land sales of the previous school and the village hall sites.

More money came from Oxfordshire County Council and The Duchy of Cornwall.

The Parent-Teacher Association has also raised £15,000 over the past two years.

The school has included a nursery for children aged three to five, and has installed a kitchen so lunches can be cooked on the premises.

Residents will be able to use the hall for community events and sports activities.

Vikki Robins, from Bletchingdon Community Foundation, said: “The kids were so excited and they all wanted to get into their new classrooms and see whose artwork was on the wall.

“The teachers have been amazing as well, it has been a long hard slog and without them it would not have been possible.”

Mrs Robins, 47, also thanked the parents who had visited for open days in August, and architect Sam Cook, from Kidlington, who designed the new buildings.

The Bletchingdon resident has a six-year-old daughter, Sam, who goes to the school.

A further 58 homes have been planned for the site, and a new shop will be built and leased to the Co-op.

Cherwell District Council said there will be 18 affordable homes and 40 on the open market, including two- and three-bedroom houses.