IT was a red letter day for Shipston Primary School when one of Britain's most experienced politicians paid a visit.

Lord Howe of Aberavon, formerly Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe, visited the school with his wife, Lady Elspeth, last Friday on what was a day of unrelenting good news, with the school picking up an award and hearing of a good verdict from Ofsted inspectors.

Lord Howe, who lives in south Warwickshire, was there to open the school's new £500,000 extension. The four new classrooms, offices and staff facilities are now occupied by more than 100 pupils in the reception class and Year One and have been named the Stephen Gray Annexe in honour of Mr Gray, who recently stood down as chairman of the school governors.

Mr Gray, who is still on the board of governors, said: "It feels a little embarrassing, but I am very proud. It has been an awful lot of work, there's no doubt about it. It is great to go out on a high note." His successor, David Hudson, said: "This is part of our commitment to improving the fabric of the school. It will make it much easier for the staff to provide the standard of education expected of them."

Headteacher Michael Parkhouse took Lord and Lady Howe on a tour of the new buildings, after which Lord Howe said: "I'm very impressed. It is obviously a very popular school and very strongly supported by the local population." He said he was impressed with the smartness of the pupils and the standard of work he had seen.

Although he never held an education post in government, Lord Howe, who is still active in international affairs, and his wife have been governors of schools in the East End of London and played a leading role in setting up the National Association of Governors and Managers.

The celebrations also included the presentation to the school of an Investors In People award by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.

An unexpected bonus was the final receipt of the school's Ofsted report, which arrived on the same day. Mr Parkhouse said: "It is a fantastic report. One hundred per cent of teaching is satisfactory or better. The school is regarded as having very significant strengths and no weaknesses. We can be justifiably proud of that."