Following a dramatic summer of uncertainty Fulham Boys School opened its doors today (September 15) to its first intake of pupils.

Headmaster Alun Ebenezer shook hands with all 84 year seven boys starting at the school this morning as everyone breathed a final sigh of relief following a hectic fortnight and a stressful summer.

Keys to the building in Gibbs Green, West Kensington, were only handed over two weeks ago after the new school was threatened with being closed down before it even opened.

The stress started when the Labour party won the local elections in May and put a stop to plans for Sulivan Primary School in Parsons Green to merge into the nearby New King’s Primary for Fulham Boys School (FBS) to then go into their vacated space.

This meant FBS had to desperately find a new space otherwise they would not be allowed to start this month in their planned temporary space in Gibbs Green.

Alex Wade, chairman of governors at FBS spoke to pupils at their first assembly

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson stepped in at the last minute in July to ensure the school could go ahead and contractors, staff and volunteers have been working around the clock to ensure the school was ready on time.

In the past two weeks 20 portable buildings have been removed, new tarmac laid, a science laboratory build, art and music rooms kitted out, classrooms configured and the whole site painted.

Mr Ebenezer said: “The most important thing the boys need on their first day is a can-do spirit and attitude and they need to bring it every day for the next seven years.

“I know if they come to school with that spirit I could be shaking hands with future England sportsman, stars of the West End, captains of industry and even a future prime minister.

“Everything about FBS will be geared towards boys, built on Christian principles and nurturing enterprise. This ethos is in our very DNA and has to be the driver in everything we do.”

The temporary Gibbs Green premises are part of the Earls Court development owned by Capco and will provide space for pupils until at least 2016.

Year on year the school is set to grow and will eventually have the capacity for 800 pupils however where the permanent site will be is still uncertain.