A NEWLY-built Monmouthshire primary school will be among the best in the country, the county council’s education boss has said.

Councillor Liz Hacket Pain, cabinet member for schools and learning, was referring to the £4.5million state-of-the-art Raglan VC Primary School which opens to pupils for the first time next week.

Construction work began on the 210-pupil school last summer but pupils bid farewell to their old school building in July when work to demolish the infant block got underway.

The building firm Morgan Sindall won the contract to build the 21st century school which features plazas, large open space classrooms and a digital art studio and a music studio and school hall.

It will use photovoltaic panels to convert sunlight into electricity, which will in turn help reduce the school’s carbon emissions.

The site will also use natural ventilation, the process of supplying and removing air to a building without the need for any mechanical systems.

Other features include rainwater harvesting, a system which stores rain water until it is needed for other uses, where it is re-distributed.

Cllr Hacket Pain said: “I’m sure that pupils and staff will look forward to the start of the autumn term with greater anticipation than ever before.”

“Since the announcement back in June 2013 of the green light for a replacement primary school in Raglan the whole community has awaited this day with anticipation.”

“The 21st century school-standard facilities will be among the best in the country and the vibrant, welcoming environment will enable the development of innovative and exciting ways of learning, offering pupils the opportunity to realise their full potential.”

The school will officially open on September 4.