A HUNDRED pupils at Sopley Primary School jumped for joy when their light, bright and airy eco-friendly extension was officially opened by chairman of governors Dorothy Chubb.

Mrs Chubb, 84, still comes to the school, situated in Ripley, on a regular basis to listen to the Year One and Year Two children practising their reading.

She said that prior to the extension opening they had to sit in the corridor in the old part of the school.

“Concentration was very difficult, especially for those who found it hard to read,” she said.

“Concentration could be broken just like that, and it’s hard to get it back again.

“Now they can go in the library where it’s quiet and concentration is better.”

The building has doubled the floor space and allowed the children more room to learn since it was finished at Easter.

The £660,000 project has had its critics. Neighbour Nicky Passmore and some other villagers opposed plans for a wind turbine on noise and green belt grounds, and even mounted a demonstration against it.

Standing beside it at the opening, headteacher Martin Sheret said: “There’s little noise from it, and what little noise there is when it’s blowing quite hard is blocked by the noise of the wind in the trees.”

The turbine, combined with solar panels is expected to contribute 20 per cent of the school’s power and can export electricity to the National Grid during the holidays. Since April it has saved about £300.