“ON top of the world” is how headteacher Dawn Horton described her mood as children walked through the doors of the new Hillside Primary School for the first time.

The new Newsome school, off Headfield Road, opened to pupils yesterday.

The £7.4m building, which is now home to 320 children, is the most environmentally friendly within Kirklees.

Solar panels, a wind turbine, a biomass boiler using compressed wood pellets and a special system to recycle water will all ensure this is an energy efficient school with the greenest of credentials.

“It’s stunning.The architect asked me what I wanted from this new building and I said the wow factor,” said Mrs Horton.

“That is exactly what we have got. We’re on top of the world.”

Mrs Horton said the school, which replaces Stile Common Juniors and Stile Common Infant and Nursery Schools, was the culmination of five years of hard work.

She said the 60-strong staff team had worked from 7.30am to 6pm last week to ensure the school was ready to open to pupils yesterday.

Parents and children’s reaction to the new school ranged from “wicked”, “gorgeous”, “phenomenal” and “something to be proud of” to “I wish I could go back to school!”

A new school uniform featuring green sweatshirts and specially designed logo will ensure pupils are as green on the outside as the building is on the inside.

The single storey building, which has fantastic views across Huddersfield, includes a Sure Start Children’s Centre and has places for 48 in the nursery.

The project’s principal contractor Morgan Ashurst have created the building which includes nine classrooms, a large Foundation stage space, dance studio, hall, meeting rooms and extensive grounds which will include an outdoor classroom, and raised beds for children and the community to grow fruit and vegetables together.

There will be computers in every room, 135 laptops in school and the whole building will be wireless connected.

Children’s handprints will feature in a montage at the entrance to the school as well as children’s artwork and tiles throughout the school.

This is the third Kirklees school which Morgan Ashurst has created.

They were also responsible for Moorlands Primary School at Outlane and Howard Park Primary in Cleckheaton.

Mrs Horton added: “The spirit of the community and the school will live on in Hillside and will be enjoyed by generations to come.”