WORK has begun on the main construction phase of a Poole school, under the watchful eye of the town’s mayor.

Cllr Graham Wilson was on hand to see foundations laid at Ashdown Technology College at Canford Heath as the main construction phase of the £15 million redevelopment programme got underway.

Installation of 127 piles, 12 metres long, forms the foundations of the two-storey extension at the front of the school, which is on track to open to students in September 2012.

“As a retired senior engineering manger I find this type of work and equipment fascinating and it’s been great fun to get behind the controls,” said the mayor.

“I’ll be watching the project develop with interest and can’t wait to see the finished building,” he said.

Martin Krause, Balfour Beatty project manager, said: “This work marks a significant milestone in the construction of the project and we are delighted the mayor could be part of it.”

Due to ground conditions and the close proximity of the school, traditional piling equipment will not be used.

Instead a drill and pumped concrete to fill the bore hole, with a reinforcement cage pushed through the wet concrete, will be employed.

“By this time next year, the building will be complete and students will be enjoying the new facilities,” said Mr Krause.

“We will then be working on phase two of the project, extensively redeveloping the existing school building to bring it up to the standard with the new extension.”

The plans include demolishing some existing school buildings and refurbishing others, with a new plaza to link the development to Adastral Road, and are part of the borough’s plans to change the age of transfer in 2013.