A BRAND new primary school is now open in Basingstoke.

Children joining the very first class at Castle Hill Primary School Rooksdown Campus came together this week for the start of term.

The one-form entry primary is an extension of Castle Hill Junior School, in Winklebury, led by head teacher John Martin, who will lead both schools.

The top performing Castle Hill was chosen to manage the Rooksdown campus following a public consultation launched by Hampshire County Council.

The county council spent £6.9 million for the new build to serve the community of Rooksdown.

Building work is now in the final stages, as Year reception pupils settled in to their new surroundings.

Sarah Wheble, the very first teacher at the school who has been at Castle Hill for 12 years, said: “It’s incredibly exciting.

“The children are settling in and getting used to a routine. This is their first full week.”

Describing the new build, she added: “It’s amazing and beautiful.

“Someone described it as a little kingdom. The school grounds are beautiful.”

Currently just one class of reception children occupies the space.

It will take seven years before the school is at full capacity.

Miss Wheble said: “It’s quite quiet. But Castle Hill will always have a buzz and will always have an atmosphere because it’s such a special school.”

The new building has two floors with seven classrooms, looking out onto an expanse of green space surrounded by mature trees.

It is a brick and timber clad building next to Rookdown Community Centre, and it is hoped to create a neighbourhood hub.

The school was designed by the council’s in-house architects and interior designers.

New pupil, four-year-old Tegan Jarrett said: “It’s very pretty and wonderful. I have played outside and inside.”

Mr Martin said he was excited to be leading the new school, adding: “The feedback from everybody who’s visited is it’s a stunning building and of a flagship standard.

“We are delighted with it, the children are delighted with it and all the feedback has been incredibly supportive.

“People have described it as a school for the future.

“The first week has been a huge success – all the children went home happy.”

Mr Martin praised all the staff who had come in during the summer holidays to prepare for the opening, adding: “It’s exciting and it's a new chapter that I’m thoroughly enjoying. We always felt that Rooksdown deserved a high quality school along with all the other schools in Hampshire.”

The school has adopted a new pet – Ruffles the dog – who will be trained as a therapy dog, to comfort the children when they are distressed.

The six-month-old cockapoo has been introduced to the new pupils, and will be there for children to read to, or stroke if they are upset.

Mr Martin said: “It’s quite innovative. I know that at universities when the pupils have exams they use a dog to help with the nerves. But this is more, giving the children the chance to have exposure and access to a dog.”

The new school is part of Hampshire County Council’s commitment to £149 million planned investment to build new schools and expand others to create an additional 8,000 primary school places over the next three years.