STUDENTS at a New Forest school are celebrating a £2m government funding boost.

Bosses at Priestlands School have been successful in a bid for £1.9m from the Education Funding Agency (EFA).

The cash will be used to re-clad the Pennington-based school’s three-storey Nichols Building.

Work has already begun on the project, which will see a new roof added and all exterior walls and windows replaced with insulated, “double-skinned” walls and double-glazed windows.

Fourteen temporary classrooms will house the school’s pupils during the nine months it will take to finish the work.

The work follows on from two previous projects funded by bids to the EFA.

The school’s two-storey Robert Hole Building has undergone £750,000 re-cladding and refurbishment, while £75,000 was given to the school to install double-glazing.

Head teacher Chris Willsher said: “This is a superb opportunity for the school and its students.

“It means that our students will be learning in modern, comfortable facilities with brand new equipment.”

The school has also completed a £170,000 project, partly-funded by New Forest District Council, to increase the size of the staff and leisure centre customers, while a £120,000 scheme has seen Wi-Fi installed throughout the school.

David Thomas, chair of the governors, said: “These investments are a direct result of the school converting to academy status three years ago.

“I am delighted that we have been able to do so much to improve the teaching and learning environment.”