IT WAS a case of new year, new class, for children and teachers at one borough school.

Bourne Primary School in Cedar Avenue, South Ruislip, is experiencing a ‘bulge year’ – a temporary increase in the number of pupils admitted. Next year the intake will fall to the previous levels.

Although only a temporary expansion, the school has had two new permanent classrooms built.

Headteacher, Geraldine Mappley said: “We have taken on another 18 children, so each class now has 24 children in it. The new classrooms are amazing, we’ve got some happy children and some very happy teachers.

“We were oversubscribed. I think we were the second smallest school in the borough and our infant year curriculum is different to the national curriculum.

“It is based around learning in smaller groups, and learning with play, and a lot of it takes place outside the classroom. What is exciting is that the old classrooms didn’t encourage that type of learning, but the new ones really support the children very well.”

The school is also getting a new playground, paid for in part by funds raised by the Parent Teacher Association.

“The parents have done a lot of fundraising for us to get the new playground,” Mrs Mappley said.

“They are called FAB because they are the Friends’ Association of Bourne.

“We liken ourselves to being a big family.”

During the building work the children were invited for a site visit by the construction company Ashe. Wearing miniature hard hats and high visibility jackets, the pupils were given a tour of what would soon be their new buildings.

“The actual build has been fantastic,” Mrs Mappley said.

“The builders gave an assembly so that everybody knew exactly what was happening and when.”