An MP and an Olympic Gold Medallist were among parents who saw new facilities at schools which held open evenings.

Students at a Docklands school showed off their talents at the opening of their Silvertown premises.

Stephen Timms, MP for East Ham joined Olympian Mark Hunter MBE at an event which highlighted the facilities which will be available London Design and Engineering UTC technical school due to open in East Ham in 2015.

Geoffrey Fowler, Principal of London Design and Engineering UTC hosted the event and invited students from across London to come to East Ham Town Hall to learn more about the school and take part in a rowing challenge.

Mr Timms said: “The London Design and Engineering UTC will be an asset to the young people of east London. I am particularly impressed by the commitment made by the school to guarantee every young person will have a clear path to further education or employment when they finish their studies.”

Mark Hunter MBE said: “To see the opportunities arise for a new school in the East End of London is massive. It is great to give more opportunities for kids – allowing them to progress into different walks of life, different jobs and a different type of education.”

The school, which will specialise in Design and Engineering, will have first class facilities and specialist equipment.

In the Docklands, students at Oasis Academy Silvertown welcomed parents and members of the community to an evening of entertainment at their official opening ceremony at Britannia Village Hall.

The evening included a performance by the Oasis Academy Silvertown choir as well as a series of special renditions from members of the musical ensemble.

Charles Claxton, Principal of the Academy said; “We’ve had a fantastic start to the school term and we have high hopes for each and every one of our students, who are already displaying boundless enthusiasm for learning. Tonight is an opportunity for the students to share that enthusiasm with the wider community by celebrating this new chapter in their lives.”

Oasis was founded in 1985 and exists to help people lead full lives through strengthening communities.

Through its educational trust, Oasis Community Learning, Oasis is one of the largest providers of academies in the UK, currently responsible for 43 primary and secondary academies across the country.