WHILE most children cannot wait to start their Easter holidays, these excited youngsters cannot wait for the break to be over so they can start at their unique multi-million pound “school in the park”.

Keys to Clarendon Primary School’s new £6.5 million campus in Heywood Park have been officially handed over.

The school is designed for 21st century learning and even has a purpose-built large outdoor area.

Ground floor classrooms have direct access to their own outdoor covered teaching, learning and play space, while the older pupils on the upper floor have a large external teaching terrace with views across the park.

New headteacher, Vicky Chatterjee, said: “We are excited by the prospects and opportunities that our new school building holds for the children and the community. The children of Clarendon deserve the very best and the new school will enable them to shine and flourish now and in future generations.”

The building reflects the heritage of the area with panels of brickwork fashioned into textile patterns reflecting the legacy of Robert Heywood who gifted the park to the people of Bolton in 1862.

Eventually the school will incorporate decorative architectural features reclaimed from the former Clarendon School, which opened in 1886.

The school’s two rolls of honour in memory of former pupils who fought and died in the First World War will be displayed in the lobby area.

Pupils start lessons in the new building on Tuesday, April 29.

Umamah Ifkar, aged nine, said: “I want the holidays to finish quickly so we can start in our new school. I’m so excited.”

Saliha Patel, aged nine, added: “I think the school is brilliant.

“We have more computers and it will be easier to learn and I think we will all do even better.”

Faizan Kothiya, aged nine, said: “I am looking forward to coming to the school. It is a modern school and I like that it is in a park.”

His brother Amir, aged eight, added: “I will look forward to coming here everyday.

“The other building was falling part and this is amazing.”

Cllr Kevin McKeon, cabinet member for schools and skills, said the new building would inspire and enhance the education of children.

He added: “We’re really excited to finally take possession of this new building, which will provide all the facilities and technology needed for 21st century learning.

“We really hope the children and teachers enjoy their new school. We’re pleased it will also incorporate elements of the history of the old school, so it continues the school’s links with the local community.”

Margaret Asquith, dir-ector of adult and children’s services said: “The former Clarendon Primary School had a long history with the community but was no longer suitable for a modern learning environ-ment, so we were pleased to be able to commission a new building for the school.”