The Prime Minister and Education Secretary Ed Balls visited Allerton High School, a Business and Enterprise specialist school in North Leeds.

He was greeted by head teacher Elaine Silson, North-East Leeds MP Fabian Hamilton, and the head boy and girl of the school, before cutting the ribbon to officially open the building, which has been open to pupils since September.

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Mr Brown said: "This school is conceived as a 21st century school, one that will lift the ambitions and aspirations of young people in this area.

"I believe it will be a model for other schools around the country in years to come."

On a tour of the recently completed school buildings, the Prime Minister and Mr Balls met and spoke to pupils studying IT and health and social care, asking them about the changes brought about by the new facilities, and their plans for the future.

Earlier today Mr Brown visited the HBOS headquarters in Halifax, where he met staff affected by the merger with Lloyds TSB.

Mr Brown and his colleagues travelled to Yorkshire ahead of an out-of-London cabinet meeting today, the second to be held outside the capital since the summer.