STAFF and pupils at St Christopher's High School in Accrington are celebrating after securing a £2.5m cash boost.

The funding, which was announced by the Department for Education and Skills, will enable the school to improve and build new facilities for its 950 pupils.

Delighted headteacher Alasdair Coates said it was the result of more than five years of hard work by staff, parents and pupils, who had to raise 10 per cent of the money needed themselves.

He added that building work would start next May and the new facilities would include:

  • A four-court sports hall with changing and disabled facilities
  • A new library and resource centre with computers
  • A performing arts suite with a dance/drama studio, five music rooms and two art rooms
  • A new technology room
  • An upstairs corridor providing a link between buildings.

Mr Coates said: "The money will allow us to make the building more appropriate for the pupils. The school was originally built for 450 pupils and while there have been various building projects since then, they have only been small ones.

"It is not a case of expanding; it is about providing the proper means to deliver a 21st century curriculum to 21st century students."

Mr Coates also thanked parents for their support of the project, which involved putting together a detailed funding bid, curriculum analysis and building plans.

He said: "Our parents have raised nearly a quarter-of-a-million pou-nds, which is a tremendous achievement and shows their commitment to the school.

"They have dug deep in their pockets to enable their children and future generations to benefit, and a lot of them gave sacrificially.

"Our pupils already achieve far more than predicted when they enter the school, and we are very proud of our track record. But we feel that this money will help us to achieve even more."