A NEW primary school has officially opened, welcoming army families moving to Wiltshire.

On Friday, November 9, St Michael’s Primary School at Larkhill opened its doors to the public, promising “state of the art” facilities and enough space to accommodate the increasing number of pupils coming to the area, as part of the 2019 Army Basing Programme.

The 420-pupil school boasts a range of resources for children, including a dance studio, assembly hall, nursery, sports pitch and sensory garden.

The school was opened last week by headteacher Nicky Phillips, who said: “[It is] an incredible school, by which I mean not only the building but the individuals within it; providing our children with the firm foundation they need to go out from here, to stand out in their communities and shine brightly in a rapidly changing world.”

St Michael’s is part of the Salisbury Plain Academies Trust, which is made up of five local schools in close proximity of one another that work collaboratively through workshops and events.

CEO of Salisbury Plain Academies Trust, Tina Evans, “couldn’t be happier” with the new school build and describes the academy as a “family”, adding: “This has always been about more than creating a building; at Salisbury Plain Academies we are about building communities and the new school at St Michael’s embodies that ambition. We are looking forward to seeing the school going from strength to strength.”

Wiltshire Council leader Jane Scott added: “I am pleased pupils are settling into their new school which I’m sure will inspire learning and help them to achieve their potential.”

Staff and pupils based at the former site in Figheldean have been enjoying the new premises since September, a Year 5 pupil added: “It is amazing to be standing on a prehistoric site, to know that so many things have happened where we are working.”