PARALYMPIC gold medallist Lily van den Broecke has returned to her former school to open a multi-million-pound new building.

Ms van den Broecke, who coxed the mixed fours in rowing in the 2012 Paralympic Games to victory, officially opened the new building at Headington Preparatory School last Friday.

Parents, pupils and teachers gathered to see the building officially opened.

The project took about 14 months, and includes a new gym, art and music rooms, hall and performance space, library, glass atrium and meeting area.

The main teaching area for the school has not changed but the new building includes most of the ancillary facilities.

Headteacher Caroline Jordan said: “We have, in effect, built a brand new school within the shell of a very old building.

“I’d like to thank everybody who helped us to keep running a busy prep school throughout – an extraordinary achievement by all involved.” The public will have a chance to tour the new facility from 2pm to 4pm tomorrow as part of Oxford Open Doors.

Ms van den Broecke, who started rowing while at Headington, attended both the prep school for two years and the main school for her secondary and sixth form education, leaving the school in 2010.

She was head girl of the senior school before she left, and is currently studying politics, philosophy and economics at Durham University.