KINGS Park Primary School is at the dawn of a new era.

One step through the door gives a very real feeling of being involved in the start of something new and exciting.

Top-notch new buildings and the arrival of dynamic new headteacher Brian Hooper have had an almost instant effect on staff and pupils.

Beautifully behaved, smart youngsters are concentrating on their learning throughout the school and staff appear to have a spring in their step.

Recent Ofsted inspections have not been kind to the school, situated in the most deprived area of Bournemouth.

But Mr Hooper is confident it can rise through the grades to a level of ‘Outstanding’ in a short space of time.

Mr Hooper is the chief executive officer of the Ambitions Academies Trust, consisting of Tregonwell Academy, Queens Park Academy and Longspee Academy.

When Queens Park joined the Trust in 2012 it was in special measures, but just two years later was ranked ‘Outstanding’ by government inspectors.

Mr Hooper said: “Kings Park will become ‘Outstanding’. It definitely needed the new building, which replaces old and outdated facilities and also means we can offer places to more children in the future.

“The children here are wonderful.

“They all look really smart, they’re polite and friendly and they are all keen to learn. “Wherever you look, children are learning and they are all very happy.”

This year saw three Reception classes join the school and all are full. There are some spaces in other year groups but it will fill up from the bottom due to the high number of young children living in the area. Others are likely to join all age groups as standards rise.

The school’s catchment area is mainly Boscombe and Spring-bourne with most youngsters going to Avonbourne and Hare-wood Colleges when they leave.

A tour of the school reveals the high quality of the new building, which came at a cost of more than £7million.

They’ve thought of everything, from the state-of-the-art gym and kitchens to spacious, airy classrooms, changing rooms and toilets which would not be out of place in a hotel.

The uniform hasn’t changed but the way it is worn has. Ties are all neatly knotted, shirts tucked in and school jumpers are worn with pride.

Kings Park Primary had a rocky few years but things are about to change – watch this space.