A PARALYMPIC gold medallist has officially opened a free school’s new £12 million campus.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson visited The Archer Academy’s Stanley Road campus, in East Finchley, for the ceremony on Monday.

The site includes an all-weather pitch, hard courts for netball and tennis, and a grass play area.

Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils started at the Stanley Road campus last month, with Year 10 and 11 pupils based in Beaumont Close, near to East Finchley station.

Baroness Grey-Thompson addressed an assembly of 450 pupils, and even joined in with a rendition of the school’s song, The Archer Way.

Headteacher Lucy Harrison said: “We were honoured to welcome Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson to the Archer Academy to officially open our new Stanley Road campus.

“Tanni spoke with great enthusiasm about her sporting career in our whole school assembly and the students were captivated by her stories.

“We felt that Tanni was the perfect choice to open our new building as her life reflects so many of the Archer Academy values; determination, overcoming adversity and self-belief.”

Avis Johns, chairman of governors, said: “It was superb, she was such an incredible speaker. She told stories from her childhood about how she got in a school with great facilities that opened the pathway for her.

“She was really interested in all the sports facilities. At each stage, she had time to talk, primarily to the children. She was really generous with her time and thoughts. It was a cracking afternoon."

Ms Johns added: “They are absolutely relishing the sports facilities, and all the new space – the dedicated music rooms and the science labs. They are making the most of it.

“When Lucy (Harrison) took to the stage, there was a round of applause, and it was a real recognition that we have come a long, long way. It was a real ‘wow, we have made it’ moment.

“We are immensely proud. As much as I am proud, I am just delighted to see the children making the most of it all, and their excitement at having all these opportunities.”