The sky turned red yesterday as children at a Tottenham primary school released more than 500 ruby colored balloons.

The cause for celebration on Tuesday was the expansion of Welbourne Primary School, a large two form entry school in the heart of Tottenham.

The school boasts a wing of new facilities completed in February, including six classrooms, a kitchen, a multipurpose hall and an outdoor creative learning space.

Kate Mejri, assistant head teacher, will be teaching in the new building. She said: “Our children come from very different backgrounds. The new wing gives a safe, sound-proof environment. There’s a lot more room and very high tech equipment.”

Haringey Council funded the expansion, which allows the school to grow to include three forms.

Head Teacher Parveen Duggal said: “It was either build another school in Tottenham or expand ours. It’s great for children and families in the area. We are very excited to provide a lot more learning opportunities.”

Ms Duggal said the new wing was the highlight of a successful year at Welbourne, which began with an excellent Ofsted report in the Autumn Term.

Jon Abbey, assistant director of schools and learning at Haringey Council, praised Welbourne’s success.

He said: “You need good schools right in the heart of Tottenham. For the school to expand is wonderful. That means people want to come to Tottenham to live and want to send their children to school here.”

Also joining in the festivities were Nathan Oduwa and Will Miller, two players from the Tottenham Hotspur Academy, who cut a ribbon symbolizing the opening of the new wing.

The players helped the school children hold tight to their red balloons amid a flurry of laughter and cheering.

Ms Duggal, looking around at her pupils and the new building added: “We have lots to celebrate. It really is all about the children.”

As the students and teachers returned to their day’s work, the last red balloon faded into the distance over the new school.