A NEW primary school was given star treatment at its official opening.

Gifford Primary School, in Greenhill Gardens, Northolt, was officially opened by ex-Casualty and Fame Academy star Kwame Kwei-Armah during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday which was also attended by Ealing Mayor Cllr Ian Potts and Stephen Pound MP.

The new school, which will have room for 630 pupils and 50 nursery places, is one of four new schools in the borough that has been transformed as part of the Government's Private Finance Initiative.

Val Crookes, headteacher of Gifford Primary School, said: "Most of the children recognised Kwame from the television and were keen to talk to him about our fantastic new school.

"We had a wonderful day and the children were delighted that so many people came to join in the celebrations."

The school has been completely rebuilt and is now fully equipped to cater for pupils with special needs. The school has also purchased a new Soundfield system, which generates the teacher's voice at the same volume to every corner of the classroom allowing a truly inclusive environment for deaf and hearing children.

Pupils put on an impressive show featuring songs, dances, rap, poetry and a history of the school, and the assembly was signed throughout for deaf pupils.