�Pupils have given the thumbs up to refurbishments at Rainham Village Primary School completed over the last 12 months – with one dubbing them “cool”.

A new school office has replaced an old block of children’s toilets, which have been refurbished and moved further along a corridor.

Relocated

Younger children have a modern, colourful nursery now adjoined to the school rather than a separate building, and the headteacher’s office was moved, with the old office becoming a group teaching space.

One of the biggest changes to the school was remodelling six small classrooms into four larger classroom spaces, with additional facilities such as a cloakroom and small separate teaching rooms for group working.

Two classrooms were then relocated to space made available by knocking through an old caretaker’s office and a changing room.

An outdoor courtyard was also refurbished into an enclosed outdoor play area for the relocated nursery.

The old Victorian nursery building has been refurbished into a new children’s centre.

The refurbishment was part of Havering Council’s Rainham Compass project which aims to improve the area for local people.

There are also new signs and gates.

Jessica Horvath, a Year Five pupil, said: “I like the new classrooms and I think the school looks really good. I like that we have lots of new things too.”

Evernage Nyahunda, of Year Six, said: “I think it’s really cool. I like the front entrance; it’s not as rustic as before.”

Headteacher Sandra Carter added: “The children have all been really enthusiastic about the improvements to the school.”