It's a rap - our school's open

Pupils celebrated in song when new and improved buildings at a village school were officially opened yesterday.

Donning bright yellow hard hats and construction site reflective jackets, a group of youngsters performed a song they had helped to write with Ken Tarling, of Norfolk's Music Works team.

Parents, staff and governors watched proudly as the pupils at Narborough Church of England Primary School performed a rap-style chorus that included the words: "We've built a school, a school to be proud of. A brand

new start for every boy and girl."

It ended: "With our friends and teachers here to guide us, we can explore the wonders of the world and we can shape the future of our world."

Afterwards Mr Tarling said: "They were wonderful. That was the best performance of the song that they have given."

Leading the applause - with a broad smile - at the end of the performance was the Bishop of Lynn, the Rt Rev James Langstaff, who a few minutes later cut a tape to mark the building's official opening.

The £858,000 project, which takes the school from first to primary status with pupils staying on until the age of

11, was part of Norfolk's countywide £200m school reorganisation scheme.

It involved creating three new classrooms, a room for group work and activities to support pupils with special needs, new offices, storage space and toilets, as well as a new library to form a resource room and ICT suite.

The work, which began a year ago, also meant that the existing building was partly remodelled to provide a

larger hall, offices, storage space and additional

toilets as well as facilities for those with disabilities.

The bishop said of the school: "I think this is excellent and is one of the nicest I have seen. The children obviously enjoy it - there is a nice sense of space about it and there is a wonderful atmosphere."

And head Linda Buckley said the alterations had created a bright and happy working environment for all.