£8m revamp planned for Newport's Burton Borough School

Newport's Burton Borough School has revealed plans for an £8 million revamp which will see a new teaching block built and crumbling classrooms demolished.

Outside the current art block are, from left, Toby Hill, Ellen Taylor, Ruby Brookfield and Josh Priday, all 12, with head David Hill

After years of delays, the Audley Avenue School is now ready to push on with its plans, with preliminary work set to begin next year.

The designs are due to be shown to parents on September 19, from 4.30pm to 7pm at the school,

Burton Borough school is to be given £8 million for improvements

Headteacher Dave Hill said pupils would spend about 90 per cent of lesson time in the new 44-room block.

The remaining lessons – including PE, music, ICT and drama – will continue in the existing school buildings, which recently had work carried out on them.

The money for the revamp was earmarked from the Government's Building Schools for the Future fund about six years ago – but the economic situation and changes of administration at Telford & Wrekin Council have led to delays.

Mr Hill said: "I am relieved that we have finally got there. It's been a long time waiting but I believe we have got the best possible outcome.

"We did want a new school but what we have been able to come up with is effectively a new school. About 90 per cent of students' time will be spent within the new block.

"The rest will be in parts of the school will have been improved in recent years, including the sports hall, specialist music block and drama studio.

"We are as close to having a new school as we can be."

Under the plans, the two storey new block will be built between the current English area and the music rooms.

All of the wooden demountable classrooms will be replaced and the current science and technology rooms will be demolished. The demountable classrooms will be moved to a new site in the February half term.

Building work will begin in Easter and it is expected that the new building will open in September 2015.

Mr Hill added: "It was an absolute priority to come up with a plan which did not harm our existing students.

"No buildings will be knocked down until the new block is up and learning will continue as it has been in recent years."

Mr Hill said the school did want a new main hall but decided to plough money into classrooms instead.

Paul Broomhead, the chairman of governors at the school, said: "I am excited as I think it will significantly enhance the education opportunities available to Newport children."