EXCITED youngsters made history as they became the first pupils to start at Bolton’s newest primary school.

Essa Primary, a free school, threw open its gates yesterday to welcome its first intake.

Principal Jo Wood said: “Welcoming the first 90 children into school is a memorable moment and will form the foundations of many more exciting experiences in the coming weeks, months and years.

“It was an opportunity for me to be part of something from the start, it is such a unique experience for a headteacher to be able to open a new school.”

Miss Wood added: “I would like to thank the community and parents who have made the school possible.”

An office block has been transformed into modern reception and Years One and Two classes — all underpinned by modern technology.

The next step is to open a permanent school on the site of the old Hayward School.

The primary school was put forward by Essa Foundation Academies Trust and will educate 420 young people from the local area. Miss Wood said children would have a personalised creative curriculum, with their learning enhanced through the use of mobile technology such as iPads.

She added that the primary school with links with Essa Academy would provide children with access to more resources and help with the transition from primary to secondary schools, creating an “Essa Family”.

And it didn’t take Essa Primary School’s first intake to settle in.

Asim Khan, aged four, said: “I am looking forward to using the computers, and it has been a good day.”

Janna Bibi, aged six, added: “It is a brilliant school, I have made new friends, have done some writing and I am enjoying my new school.” Liam Munjoma, aged six, said: “I was excited about starting school and making new friends. The teachers are nice too.”

Free schools are new independent state-funded schools that can be set up by groups of teachers, charities, parents, existing schools or other organisations to respond to a need for a new school — in this case it was due to an increase in demand for primary school places in the locality.