The first of eight schools to be expanded to cope with primary school places has been completed.

The £6.7million expansion of George Spicer Primary School, in Southbury Road and now Kimberley Gardens, has been officially opened.

The Kimberley Gardens site, adjacent to the original building, will house Reception, Year 1 and 2 pupils.

The expansion caused controversy as residents living in Ladysmith Road were incensed by the close proximity of the new building and increased traffic they feared would be caused by the school.

Despite their concerns, plans went ahead and will now see 360 pupils on the site by 2018.

Enfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for education, Councillor Ayfer Orhan, said: “Every borough in London is facing significant pressure on primary school places and we have been working incredibly hard with the schools in Enfield to meet the significant need for primary school places in the borough and our £55 million school expansion programme will provide more new places for children in the areas in which they are most needed by 2018.

“The new Kimberley Gardens Site is a fantastic facility that will provide first rate facilities and teaching for hundreds of pupils. George Spicer is a good school with a fantastic track record of getting the best out of its pupils and these new buildings mean even more children will benefit from a first-rate education."

“We have a long term commitment to improve facilities and provide extra school places in the areas they are most needed. Our plans are to build more school facilities in the coming years and we are determined to provide enough primary school places across Enfield to give parents a better chance of getting a place at a school close to where they live.”

The site will include 12 classrooms, a multi-purpose hall and kitchen facilities.

Pupils, parents and councillors were able to enjoy singing performances and plays from each year at the school as well as a tour of the new facilities.

Enfield Council say that 1,500 new school places will be provided once the remaining seven expansion plans are completed.

The other expansions include Edmonton County, which will provide both primary and secondary education, Chesterfield Primary School, Highfield Primary School, Garfield Primary School, Grange Park Primary School, Prince of Wales Primary School and Worcesters Primary School.