The wide-eyed enthusiasm of Year 7 and Year 12 pupils was clear to see at the Voyager School as the pupils made their way out of the dazzling new building.

Hundreds of children have now sampled the state-of-the-art educational facilities at the £26 million Voyager, in Mountsteven Avenue, Walton, and the £51 million Thomas Deacon Academy in Queen's Gardens, city centre.

And for the remainder of this week hundreds more pupils are due to join them as the schools gradually fill to capacity.

Voyager headteacher, Hugh Howe, said: "The first day went very well, everything we had planned came to fruition.

"It has also been a very emotional day, as 11-years-old take their first step into secondary school, and former Walton Community School pupils start again on the site of their former school.

"One of the highlights was when the pupils sang the new school song in assembly. They had been practicing in the morning and it came as a surprise to me."

One Voyager pupil, 11-year-old Macauley Jenner, was so overwhelmed by the size of the school, that all he could say was "it is just a big wow. I am speechless by it all", but he did add that he couldn't wait for the next day to start.

Seventeen-year-old Chris Day, a former Walton Community School pupil, said he was particularly impressed by the art and drama facilities.

He added: "It is a very impressive building, I have definitely made the right choice coming here, and I look forward to my A-level studies."

His sentiments were backed by fellow Year 12 pupils, Hannah Hughes and Hollie Sturgess.

Hollie (16) said: "I really enjoy arts and music, so I am glad the school has great facilities for this. It is good to see a lot of familiar faces, but lots of new ones as well."

Hannah (16) added: "Everyone seems really pleased. It looks really good, and is well laid out."

It was a similar story at The Thomas Deacon Academy, with hundreds of pupils again filing out of the classroom, eager to explore the whole building.

There was also change at the former Walton Junior School. The school has been renamed Discovery Primary School in keeping with the visionary Voyager theme.

The Voyager School will be open to the public on Saturday, from 10am to 2pm.