BEAMONT Collegiate Academy has been awarded millions in funding to build a new state-of-the-art school.

The new facility will open its door in September 2015 on the existing site on Long Lane after the school successfully applied for funding from the Government’s Priority Schools Building Programme.

The funding aims to address the needs of the 261 schools most in need of urgent repair.

The £10m grant has been welcomed by the school’s principal Andrew Moorcroft.

He said: “It is exciting for the whole school community to know that in just over a year's time we will be moving into an amazing new learning environment with state of the art facilities including brand new classrooms and science laboratories.”

The school, which converted into an academy last year from its previous William Beamont High title and is sponsored by the Warrington Collegiate Education Trust, will benefit from a robotics workshop, CAD and CAM design studio, music recording studio, activity studio and fitness suite.

Building work is expected to start in the summer.

Residents, prospective pupils, current students and their families are invited to attend an exhibition on Thursday from 3pm to 7pm to meet the construction team and architect.

Wates Construction and Ellis Williams Architects were appointed for their proposal which best met the needs of students.

The new school will comprise of two floors and will be built on the current school grounds.

Once the school is built, the current building will be replaced with sports facilities and car parking.