WORK on new classrooms at Waverley Abbey School, to replace run-down temporary buildings, could start in a year after the school received a government grant of £597,000.
This week, the Department for Education and Skills announced that Waverley Abbey was one of several schools to benefit from a total of £141 million of capital grants.
And the news represented the end of a long battle for the Tilford junior school, which saw its bid for new classroom money fail last year.
Headteacher David Jeffs told The Herald: "We have two classrooms that are falling down.
"Some of the buildings go back quite a way but the worst ones have a life expectancy of 20 years and they leak and rot. We're always having to repair the leaky roofs."
The money, which will be allocated from the government to Surrey Local Education Authority before finding its way to the school, will pay for three new classrooms, an administration unit and possibly a new staff room to cope with increased staff numbers.
"It's taken a good two years," said Mr Jeffs. "We had to get support from the diocese. John Wilson (chairman of the school's building committee) did and excellent job."
The planning application for the new classrooms will be handled by DHP, the Guildford Diocese's consultants.
Problems with ageing and decaying temporary buildings with leaking roofs and cramped rooms were noted by Ofsted inspectors in their otherwise glowing recent report.