BUILDING work has commenced on transforming the site at Farnham Heath End School (FHES) to provide a state-of-the-art sports hall, eight new classrooms and a learning resource centre.

Work on the part single, part two-storey building, designed by WSW design, is due to be completed by August 2019 - ready for the beginning of the next academic year in September.

It comes after Waverley Borough Council planning officers raised ‘no objection’ to the school’s plans, submitted in partnership with the Weydon Multi Academy Trust (MAT) and Surrey County Council, in June.

Hailing the start of building work, FHES headteacher since January, Stuart Maginnis said: “As the school continues to improve, I am so excited about the improvement this facility will provide our students and staff.”

FHES was handed a ‘requires improvement’ rating by Ofsted in 2017 - but joined the Weydon MAT in April last year in a bid to reverse its fortunes, and in December the county council signed off plans in to expand the school by an extra 30 places per year.

This included the promise of a new “world class” sports hall and additional dining space, classrooms, science and ICT facilities, as well as a new specialist learning needs area.

Former Weydon co-principal Mr Maginnis subsequently took over as head in January, and in an interview with the Herald outlined ambitious plans to give pupils “a school they can be proud of”.

The building works are planned to be completed by Armfield Construction over three phases:

• Phase one: Extension of the main car park to the front of the school.

• Phase two: Construction of the sports hall and learning resource centre.

• Phase three: To construct a new playground and extend parking to the rear of the school.

A public exhibition of FHES’s plans was held at the school in March.