Contractors and guests at the ground-breaking ceremony at Fulston Manor

by Hayley Robinson

Construction work has finally begun on a multi-million pound project at a town school.

Fulston Manor was told last June that its bid for £3.7million of funding had been accepted by the Department of Education.

The money is being used to build a new maths and English block which will be two-storeys.

A new entrance will be created as well as 16 new classrooms plus welfare and office facilities for general teaching.

The number of parking spaces will increase from 50 to 64 – seven of which will be disabled bays.

Five drop-off points will also be installed.

Permission for the development was given by Swale council planning committee members in April 2012.

Work finally started on February 15 and is expected to be completed by December.

In the meantime it is business as usual despite inquiries from some students as to whether they would be given a year off!

A number of temporary classrooms were moved in the summer from where the new building is going.

Head teacher Alan Brookes said: “Naturally, we are all delighted to see construction underway and pleased that everything appears to be on schedule for opening in January 2014.

“Although we have always maintained Fulston Manor continues to be such a successful and popular school because of the people who work here, I have no doubt that, once open, the new building will enhance still further the quality of education provided for all our students.”

As part of the planning application, outline permission was also granted by Swale council for a new sixth-form centre, sports hall and teaching block.

Currently 65% of students are taught in temporary buildings at the site.

The aim is that by the end of all the building phases, there won’t be any of these left.

Mr Brookes added: “We will put in a full planning application for phase two when the next funding window opens.

“One encouraging thing is we’ve been given the money for phase one which is part of a four-phase programme and central government understand that as it was outlined in our application.”