Students at a Catholic school welcomed a bishop to bless and officially open a new building with eight classrooms, a science lab and a learning resource centre.

Rt Revd Alan Williams, Bishop of Brentwood, met with staff and youngsters to unveil the Corpus Christi building at Holy Family Catholic Secondary School.

The building at the site in Shernhall Street, Walthamstow provides space for an additional 300 pupils and another building with four classrooms is under construction at the school’s neighbouring site in Vinegar Alley.

The learning resource centre is named after Henriette DeLille,

Founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family, after a Year 7 pupil came up with the suggestion.

Headteacher Andy Stone said: “We were delighted to name the new learning resource centre after Henriette DeLille, an American of mixed-race background in the 19th century who founded the order of the Holy Family and who had a particular vocation to work with the disadvantaged and educate the poor.

“This name was proposed to us by a Year 7 student Neo Valverde-Sebunya and we were delighted to have Neo, his parents and grandmother with us to at the blessing ceremony.”

The development is funded by Waltham Forest Council’s £107 million school expansion programme which has provided more than 7,000 primary places and 1,500 secondary school places.

Cllr Grace Williams, Cabinet member for Children and Young People’s Services, said: “I hope all the Holy Family’s pupils will enjoy their school work even more in this is wonderful spacious, light and airy building.

“We know that the quality of the buildings in which children learn make all the difference.

“It is just one part of our investment across the borough to ensure all 70,000 children in Waltham Forest have the very best chances in life.”