Major construction firm Willmott Dixon, has won the race to build on the £16.7m Knole Academy School in Kent.
The full design of the new site is now being drawn up by architect Hunters with completion of the site set for September 2014 in time for the new school year.
Features include a high specification outdoor climbing wall, conference and performance space that can seat up to 300, a recording studio, a Sixth Form Centre for up to 350 pupils, a Business, Economics and ICT area, ‘A’ level Physics, Chemistry and Biology laboratories, and new graphics and art suite.
An All Weather Pitch with the capacity to hold three five a side football courts will open ahead of the academy in August.
Most of the new facilities will be contained in a new three-storey building, while Willmott Dixon will also refurbish and convert a range of areas within the existing academy buildings to provide a dance studio and a fitness suite.
The result will be an academy with state of the art facilities for 1,550 students.