A March primary school will open their new extension of four classrooms, an office and kitchen as part of their remembrance service next month.

Former staff, pupils and parents at Westwood Primary School will join together to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War on November 9.

The event will begin with a class assembly before all pupils congregate in the playground for three minutes silence.

On the run up to the event, each class will be working on one part of a jigsaw puzzle which when pieced together will form a memorial picture of poppies and soldiers.

The service will also be a chance for the school to unveil their extensive building works that took place over the summer, by construction company the Kier Group.

Previously Westwood was a three form entry school and has been expanding to a four form entry school since September 2015, and now has a capacity of 840.

Prior to the expansion more than 200 students could have been forced to go to school elsewhere, potentially out of March, on reaching Year 4.

“These 210 children are all in the catchment area and we believe that the school is the heart of the community and that children who live in March have the right to be educated in March,” said Gill Thomas, head of Westwood.

“There was a need for us to expand and the local authority asked us to get bigger.”

Meanwhile, Westwood moved to academy status on October 1 and is now accountable to The Elliot Foundation multi-academy trust.

“The Elliot Foundation is a multi-academy trust for primary schools and we have a shared ethos when it comes to teaching and learning,” added Mrs Thomas.

“The biggest impact for staff, children and parents is the impact on teaching and learning given the support the Elliot Trust can provide.”

Any former staff, pupils and parents of Westwood as well as neighbours of the school are welcome to join the remembrance service and see the results of the expansion at 10.55 am on November 9.