Children in Derby have enjoyed their first day at a new school, built to replace a facility on the same site destroyed by fire two years ago.

The new £20.5 million Sinfin Community School was designed by Sheffield architects Race Cottam Associates and has transformed the site into a modern, striking showcase school.

The 1000-plus pupil school welcomed its first students for the new term after opening on schedule this week.

The scheme confirms Race Cottam’s growing reputation in the education sector and reflects a strong partnership with the school, which has specialist status in engineering.

Head teacher Steve Monks said: “It has been wonderful to see pupils arrive for their first day at school at this exceptional new facility. The blueprints for the school included the very latest thinking in education design and the result is a fantastic facility for teachers and pupils alike.”

The school is also believed to be one of the greenest in the region, with environmental features including a bio-mass boiler, wind turbine, grey water recycling, natural ventilation, a large pond and wildlife habitats.

Matt Beach, project architect at Race Cottam, said: “Sinfin Community School can now boast a range of best practice ecological features, making it a shining example of sustainable design in education.”