NORTH Oxfordshire’s first free school has official moved into its new building about 18 months after opening.

To mark the milestone, the Heyford Park Free School pupils celebrated with help from Bicester’s MasterChef contestant Sarah McCready.

She played a major role in designing the school as project manager at Dorchester Living – developers of the former RAF and US Air Force base.

And Miss McCready, 24, who reached the semi-finals of the popular BBC TV show, helped pupils cook a three-course celebratory meal for school stakeholders.

Headteacher David Castles said: “It is really positive to be able to invite so many stakeholders who have supported the school to get to this stage. Also to do something real life and relevant for the children – so much focus has been on the building. It is important that you do give them exposure to other activities and take it a bit further.

“Cooking with Sarah is one example of the types of things we do – learning beyond the normal.

“They were really excited to work with someone who is not a teacher and someone who has been successful in terms of catering, also to be creating food from scratch. They get a real sense of achievement.”

Free schools are state-funded schools set up by parent, teacher, community, business or charity groups outside local authority control and do not need to follow the National Curriculum.

The school opened in September 2013 for reception and Year Seven. It now has about 200 pupils and has Reception, Year One, Year Seven and Year Eight groups.

It aims to eventually cater for 840 children from age four to 19.

Students started off in temporary buildings until recently moving into the £12m new school’s refurbished building.

Mr Castles added: “Everything we have achieved so far has been in difficult circumstances, even in temporary accommodation.

“Moving into the permanent building can fulfill lots of dreams and promises that people have been waiting for.”

Stakeholders and those who played a vital role in the school development were treated to the three-course meal and charity auction on Thursday.

The meal, made with a little help from students, included honeycomb cannelloni, venison, pancetta, rosemary ragu, vanilla and spiced pumpkin purée.

Student Elizabeth White, 12, from Fritwell, near Bicester, said: “The best thing was learning how to make the pasta dough.

“It was easier using the machine than kneading the dough by hand.”

Classmate Ben Latimer, 11, from Bicester, said: “The best thing has been preparing the sweet potato chips and adding spices to the dish.”

The school runs from 8am to 4pm and also has a specialisms’ campus with various sports facilities.

Dorchester Living chief executive Paul Silver said: “Sarah has been instrumental in the creation and success of the school, through creation of the business plan, formation of the parents association and overall development.”