Work is underway on the new project to provide a replacement science, maths and humanities block and new dining facility for Lytchett Minster School.

Dorset County Council and the school governors have been working closely to ensure the project - part of which replaces accommodation destroyed by fire in 2000 - provides the best possible facilities for students and staff. The main new building will house the school's science, maths and humanities facilities, including ten laboratories and fourteen classrooms, as well as support offices and toilets.

The design is modern and makes extensive use of natural daylight and ventilation to provide an excellent teaching and learning environment.

The overall project also includes a separate new dining and sixth-form building, which will be a large extension to the existing Manor House. This will provide bright, attractive spaces for students to replace existing temporary facilities.

Contracts have been signed with the constructor, Alfred McAlpine, and work is now in full swing.

A new car park area has been completed along with remodelling of footpaths and cycle sheds to maintain routes into and around the school.

Foundations have been constructed, and steel frame installation for the main building is in progress.

The project is due for completion by autumn 2008.

Toni Coombs, County Council Cabinet Member for Children's Services said, "This is excellent news. We have at long last been able to overcome the difficulties and can now focus all our energies on delivering these much needed and overdue facilities for the children and staff of Lytchett. I know the governing body and the county council have worked together with the project team over several months to ensure we could start on site this spring, and we are all keen to deliver something very special."