Pupils and staff at Monkton Primary School have celebrated the official opening of a £1.2m extension.

The original school was opened in 1872 but has now been extended and modernised to include four new classrooms, a library, ICT suite, kitchen and a hall. It also comprises new offices, a staff room and a meeting room.

Head teacher Janet Graham said: “The governors, staff, children and parents are delighted with the investment that Kent County Council (KCC) has put into our village school.

“We are benefiting from the extra space, especially with the school hall. We are now developing the school grounds to provide outdoor areas for teaching and learning.”

OFSTED inspectors visited the school back in May 2007 and praised the “good quality curriculum, good teaching and exceptionally high levels of care, support and guidance”.

Mark Dance, Cabinet Member for Education Operations, Resources and Skills at KCC, said: “The new classrooms will provide an excellent environment for education and I’m sure the teachers and pupils who use them will benefit as such.”