First glimpse of £14m Wellington school replacement
These are the first stunning pictures of a new £14 million school which could open in Telford as early as next year.
They show new modern buildings and a shared indoor communal area overlooked by galleries which form part of the plans for the new Ercall Wood Technology College in Wellington.
The school, which will cater for up to 900 pupils, will be built on the site of the existing college.
The college dates back to the 1940s and will be demolished.
The site plans feature sports facilities and pitches available for community use, areas for specialist subjects, and improved room layouts and teaching facilities.
Ercall Wood will specialise in cricket and sporting facilities and playing fields will be created once the old buildings have been demolished.
Staff and pupils have revealed their delight at the plans, which they say will 'transform' the area.
The new facilities will be built next to the existing buildings, which means the school will remain open while building work takes place.
It is hoped the new school will be ready to open by 2014.
It comes after a five-year contract to build the college was signed yesterday by officials at Shepherd Construction Ltd and Telford & Wrekin Council.
The project has been paid for as part of Telford & Wrekin Council's Building Schools for the Future programme.
Chay Davis, headteacher of Ercall Wood Technology College, said: "Our pupils are very excited about getting a new school and can't wait to see the site transformed."
Ross Hamilton, 14, a pupil at the college, said: "When the new school is built, I am looking forward to walking through the door for the very first time."
Peter Bates, programme director for Shepherd Construction added: "We're delighted to be starting work on this exciting school project."
