A SCHOOL in Verwood looks set to become a lot less cramped as council chiefs consider whether to give the go-ahead for a million pound extension.

Emmanuel Middle School needs to expand to meet the demand for places brought about by the new Trinity CE First School - in the coming years pupil numbers are expected to rise by more than 100 to around 600.

That means they need a new classroom as well as extra space throughout the school, and the Department of Education and Skills has stumped up £1.15 million towards the project.

A spokesperson at the school said: "Verwood is a community that is growing rapidly and with a third first school, in order to accommodate all these children, we have to expand the school because we just haven't the room.

"We hope to create a new class of children from year five, that will eventually feed its way through the school until over a four year period we have over 100 extra children," the spokesman added.

Architects have already drawn up plans for the school, which includes provision of two new science labs, a new classroom, art room, additional resource space and a larger staff room.

The spokesperson added: "The school is very cramped at the moment and we're already oversubscribed and the building work will make it lighter and airier.

"We're hoping to start building soon providing we get the statutory approval from the LEA.

"We hope to start the ground-breaking in March and the first classroom should be ready for the intake of pupils next September, with the whole project complete by March 2006.

"The children are quite excited - we have the plans up in the main entrance and they're taking a lot of interest in the project.

"The additional facilities will improve the educational environment and the children will benefit greatly"

County councillors were being recommended to support the move for an extension at Emanuel Middle School at their cabinet meeting on Wednesday

First published: November 4