A NEW West Swindon primary school has been described as a beacon of regeneration in the area at its grand opening.

Toothill Primary and Junior School on Stokesay Drive, Toothill, showed off its state-of-the-art buildings to Channel Four’s Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud, who performed its official opening on Monday.

Parents and teachers agreed that the new £4.5m facility to replace the knocked down building on the same site was an encouraging learning environment for the children.

“This feels like exactly what the area needs,” said Toothill Primary and Junior School headteacher, Martyn Cowell.

“It’s acting like a beacon for the area and the regeneration of Toothill and the respect from the children has been immense.”

Built almost on top of the old site, the new school, which took a year to finish, has eco-friendly features such as a roof covered with low growing grasses, and solar panels, which can heat 600 litres of water a day.

There are also two central courtyards, a gardening area, a safe children’s play area and three playgrounds.

Mr McCloud said he was impressed by the way the school felt enclosed, its use of curves rather than hard edges and its eco-friendly approach.

“It’s a low energy building which is designed to provide the maximum experience for the children - it will be a formative environment for them,” he said.

The school opened to children last September, but after the tragic death of six-year-old pupil Ashley Whiteway, who was struck by a double-decker bus on Westlea Drive in August last year, the official launch was put back as a mark of respect.

While the new school was being built classes continued in the nearby old building, which was then demolished.

The popularity of the modern facility has been reflected in an increased sign-up for the new school year and Mr Cowell said 2009 would be the first in recent years to have a full 30.

“People appreciate that this is £4.5m being spent on them and this area – they don’t feel like second class citizens,” he said.

“A school is more than bricks and mortar, but it matters when people walk round the corner and see this as it should be.”

Swindon councillor Nick Martin (Cons/Shaw and Nine Elms), chair of the West Swindon area forum, said: “Four years ago we committed to knocking down two primary schools in West Swindon, but we promised to build three new ones. Toothill Primary School is the first one now built.”

Also set for its official opening soon is Millbrook Primary, in Freshbrook, which replaces Freshbrook Primary School and Windmill Hill Primary School.