MULTI-MILLION pound improvement works are under way at a school in Hamworthy after being given the green light by Poole council earlier this year.

Carter Community School was selected for the £7 million expansion to meet the growing requirement locally for more school places in Year 7, covering the period from 2019 to 2025.

The decision was taken following a detailed consultation led by the Borough of Poole, increasing the school’s capacity from 600 to 900 through an additional two forms of entry in every year group.

Starting this summer and scheduled to run until August 2019, the first phase of the work, being carried out by Midas Construction, includes the conversion of the nursery block into additional science classrooms, as well as the construction of a new drama room, dining room and English and technology block.

Further works will include the introduction of a new Learning Resource Centre, expansion of the staff room, relocation of the SEN department, re-organisation of pupil access to the pupil entrance and pedestrian access to the main school entrance, and the expansion and re-organisation of the drop-off area, parking and cycle storage facilities.

Commenting on the improvements, Carter Community School’s principal Sam Davidson said: “This is an incredibly exciting time for the school, particularly in view of another strong set of GCSE results during the summer.

“We very much look forward to the completion of these works, with all of the benefits that these improvements will bring. We will also be working closely with our neighbours and the local community to keep them informed of progress and with our contractors to minimise any potential impact during the construction period, which will include some parking and access restrictions whilst the work is carried out.”