THE green light has been given to Poole’s new £6.8million junior school.

Poole planners have approved proposals for Ocean Academy to be built on the former Fourways site at Constitution Hill Road.

The McAvoy Group’s application was approved by Borough of Poole’s planning committee for a 360 place school for seven to 11 year-olds, helping meet the need for Key Stage 2 places in central Poole.

Plans for the school, to be sponsored by the Aspirations Academies Trust, were put on display to local residents and parents and their views were taken into account.

Building work will now begin on the L-shaped two-storey building with a long teaching block and smaller block parallel to the road containing the sports and dining hall and kitchen.

There will be a full sized rugby pitch on the eastern boundary and a multi-use games area. The new school is due to take its first intake of pupils in September 2015.

Cllr Phil Eades, chairman of the planning committee, Borough of Poole, said: "Members of the planning committee approved this application with conditions.

“There is a need for additional junior school places in Poole and we were happy to support this proposal. We now look forward to seeing the new school taking shape.”

Councillor Janet Walton, portfolio holder for children, young people and families said: “This decision is another milestone in the provision of a new school for Poole and is central to our Borough-wide strategy to meet the demand for Key Stage 2 school places.”

The approved proposals include outdoor learning and play spaces, sheltered storage for bicycles and scooters and car parking for staff and visitors.