OVER 500 students and staff have marked the opening of a big red bus at a school in Bracknell, which will be used for a range of educational purposes.

The Oaklands Junior and Infants School held the ceremony on Friday, May 17 where the gathering marked the end of the two-year big red bus project.

The big red bus will be used for several different things including teaching intervention groups, an area for children with special needs, a class teaching area, a first aid station and a quiet reading area.

In 2017 Stuart Lee, a member of the leading team at the school approached RATP, who run buses in South London and asked them if they could donate one of their double decker buses.

Stuart Lee said: “The Big Red Bus allows us to provide a new and exciting learning space for children of all ages and capabilities and it has been fantastic to see the pupils exploring the facilities.”

Once the bus had been donated from RATP several local companies helped to complete the project including Window Wize, who provided all the foundation materials and structures.

Mr Lee added: "After two years, we are all delighted to finally complete our big red bus project.

"We are extremely grateful for the support we have received from Window Wize and Legal and General Homes their contributions mean that we can continue engaging and inspiring our children in a flexible and fun space."

Other major parts of the project included completing tunnelling works to allow for electrics to be run, a deep clean in the inside of the bus, making handmade cushions for the new seating areas, the making of bookshelves and benches for the inside of the bus and laying down paving that pupils had decorated.

The winner of the ‘design a mural for the bus’ competition was also announced, Jack who is in Year 6 was presented with a copy of his winning design during the opening ceremony.