The red ribbon is cut to officially declare the playground open

A LONG-AWAITED playground partly designed by school children has opened in Mildmay.

Year 5 pupils from St Jude & St Paul’s Primary School – one of two Islington primaries at risk of closure this summer – made miniature models of their vision for a play space on the patch of green space abutting the railway line near their school two years ago.

One of the miniature models setting out pupils’ visions for the playground

It was finally declared open last Friday after the ceremonial cutting of a red ribbon, accompanied by large balloons spelling out the school’s initials.

Councillor Angelo Weekes – himself a former SJSP student – attended the opening, after which pupils played on the new rope climbing frames and swings.

St Jude & St Paul’s pupils get into the swing of things

Chair of the parent-teacher association, Andri Andreou, told the Tribune that the children “loved seeing something that they’d been part of come to life”.