Doctor Who star Pearl Mackie (credit: Gage Skidmore)

Pearl Mackie, who was born in Brixton, officially reopened the rebuilt Landsdowne School, a school for pupils with special educational needs.

Mackie, 30, played The Doctor’s most recent and first openly gay companion Bill Potts. She has also worked for ‘Troupers’ as a tutor, a company that teaches theatre skills to young people.

Mackie was taken on a tour of the school, which had been redeveloped on the original site. It now has 14 purpose built classrooms as well as new facilities which include a science laboratory, two art rooms, a sensory room, an IT room and a music room.

Mackie also participated in a Q-and-A with pupils from year 12 and helped to present certificates.

Mackie told pupils that the experience of standing in front of everyone felt like her first day of school. She later tweeted: “Such an honour to open the rebuilt Lansdowne school in Brixton, for children with Autism and SEN. Fantastic facilities, passionate staff & wonderful students. Keep fighting the good fight.”

The school was rebuilt due to the fact that, having originally been built as a primary school, it was deemed unsuitable.

Funded by both the Education Funding Agency and Lambeth Council, the new development also means that the school is now able to enrol more pupils.