A Leytonstone school seen the first lessons taught in its new building after a £20 million redevelopment project.

George Mitchell School, in Farmer Road, moved into the new four-storey block at the beginning of the spring term last week.

The new building contains classrooms fitted with interactive whiteboards as well as a sports hall, a performing arts studio and science labs.

George Mitchell knocked down its former Victorian school building and replaced it with the new facility after receiving funding from the Education Funding Agency under the Priority School Building Programme.

Head teacher, Saeed Hussain, said: “It has been hectic for the last year or so but our students have settled very quickly into their new school.

“We have always been hugely ambitious for our students and now have the modern facilities which match their potential.

“We have some wonderful memories from our time in the old building but it was clear that we needed a more modern setting to take the school forward.”