Author Michael Foreman helps open Granard Primary School's new building

Children's author Michael Foreman joined the event on February 12, where the new classroom complex was officially opened.

Mr Foreman told the 490 pupils of the school that joining them reminded him of his first day at school where he "clung to [his] mother's coat" as his brother had told him "horror stories" of the spooky Victorian building. 

Of his first day, he said: "All the children were in the big hall singing All Things Bright and Beautiful and from then on, it was.

"Since then, I have been lucky to have visited schools all over the world.

"All were welcoming, and all at the heart of their community.

"This was exactly the feeling I had when I first visited Granard, so different from the spooky school of my childhood. It was bright, spacious and welcoming.

"I have great pleasure in declaring this wonderful new building open.

"Enjoy children, enjoy."

A mosaic of the Cedar Tree, which all Key Stage 2 children were involved in creating, has been set on the outside of the new building. 

The building, called the Cedar building, was commissioned to help the school cope with the move to three form entry and was part of a £1.9m investment across Wandsworth.

All the classrooms in the building, which is two-storey, sustainable, and has kitchen facilities and a staffroom, will be named after authors, including one to be named after Mr Foreman.