HUNDREDS of new school places have been created as school sites were officially opened and expanded.

Wellington Eagles Primary Academy welcomed over 150 children to the new primary facility, which is part of The Wellington College Academy Trust.

In total 420 extra primary spaces and 30 nursery places have been created.

A school spokesperson said: “Wellington Eagles are delighted that over 150 children have joined the Wellington family and are settling into their lovely, newly renovated building. The children are enjoying getting to know their teachers and new friends and are excited to be the first ever Wellington Eagles children.”

The school was due to move into a purpose-built building, but due to unforeseen ground contamination, the work was delayed and is now not likely to be finished until 2020.

However, the site is just across the road from The Wellington Academy where an unoccupied building was available to temporarily house Eagles.

And parents are said to be happy with the arrangements regarding the building delay, with one saying: “You wonderful people have done an amazing job. Very well done”.

A member of staff added: “’It is amazing to see so many children just immediately settle in as if they have always been here. A brand new school is always scary but every child is in the same boat and they play and learn beautifully together. It has been a great start for what will be a great school.’’

And there were also celebrations at The Wellington Academy, with doors opening to a brand new block.

It boasts nine general classrooms, an IT hub, an art room, three science classrooms, four small group workrooms and a large atrium with its own coffee shop for Year 7s and 8s.

A school spokesperson said: “The C Block serves as not only a fantastic expansion to an already thriving school but to provide an easier transition into secondary school life for our Year 7s. The younger years have their own hub and tutor space within the new building but can also integrate at break and lunch with the older years and make full use of the schools wonderful facilities in their lessons.

The school places have been created due to the Army Basing Programme (ABP), with work underway to create 246 new family homes in Ludgershall for troops returning from Germany, and in April last year, the then minister for schools, Nick Gibb, announced that additional funding of £2.8 million had been allocated to Wiltshire Council for service children moving to the area as part of the ABP.