A POOLE-based construction company has been chosen to build a £500,000 expansion scheme at a Dorset school.

Stepnell will deliver six new classrooms as part of the scheme for the Gryphon School in Sherborne.

Work is under way on the development, which involves the conversion of two squash courts at the Gryphon Leisure Centre, the school’s sports facility which is also used by the public.

The conversion of the squash courts will create two classrooms upstairs, while an existing fitness suite will move to the ground floor.

The space that previously housed the fitness suite will be turned into two classrooms.

The project also includes a two-storey extension in the south east corner of the site, which will house two more classrooms.

The scheme was designed by Sherborne-based Oriel Architecture and is due for completion in March 2014.

Stepnell director Derek Middleton said: “The company has extensive experience of carrying out work in busy, ‘live’ environments.

“Careful programming and a sensitive approach enables us to ensure that the school and leisure centre can continue operating as normal.” Stepnell is a family-owned building and civil engineering business, based in Rugby, with a £66million turnover.

Its three area offices, including Poole, carry out work within a 60 mile radius of their bases.

In 2005, Stepnell completed work on a children’s centre and some temporary classrooms for the Gryphon School.

The school is an over-subscribed Church of England voluntary controlled school, which is rated outstanding by Ofsted. Its sixth form, with more than 450 students, attracts young people from around North and West Dorset and from Somerset.