The pupils and staff of Teddington School have had the first look at their new building.

In September 2008, Richmond Council agreed to revamp the school by knocking down the existing buildings and putting up a new school on a different part of the site at a cost of £36.75m, with nearly £12m coming from the authority’s funds.

Last Monday, construction firm Mace Plus handed the building over to the school and headteacher Richard Weeks has been showing staff, students, councillors and the press around.

Mr Weeks said: “It has evolved over time, I have seen it at all its stages but it is only when the scaffolding is down, the paint is on the walls and the furniture is in the rooms you will see what a fantastic building it is.

“It was always going to be a special building - now I can see it, it is unbelievable.

“I didn’t dare to hope it might would be that good, it is a truly inspirational building.

“The children were awestruck.”

The old Teddington School building, in Broom Road, closes for pupils today and staff have to empty the site by Wednesday, they then have to transfer equipment over by next Friday so the new building can be finished off and made ready.

The new school will be open for current year 11 pupils to collect their GCSE results next month and the current buildings will be demolished over the rest of this year with a new astroturf pitch - also for use by Teddington Hockey Club - laid.

It is expected the new school will be complete by the end of January.

Pupils will have more than 60 classrooms, with external “break out” space for each subject area and modern science, art, technology, drama and music facilities as well as a large sports hall and gym facilities that will open to the public as part of Teddington Sports Centre.

There will also be a new school uniform and logo.

Mr Weeks added: “I feel very proud and honoured to be the headteacher of such a wonderful new school.

“It has been a very long and challenging process but the collective efforts of the architects, our staff, governors, the council, our project manager and the contractors has been outstanding.”

He said he would not miss the current building and said the new facilities gave his staff and pupils so many more options.

Councillor Paul Hodgins, Richmond Council cabinet member for schools, described the building as hugely impressive.