THE first weeks of any new school term are always busy but for Wyvern College, in Laverstock, the start of 2014/15 academic year has brought added excitement.

This week building work started on the eagerly awaited £10m project to replace ageing school buildings with state-of-the art classrooms and facilities.

The diggers were officially unleashed by Salisbury’s MP John Glen who, as associate governor at the school, has busy been pulling strings behind the scenes to help clinch vital funding from the Department of Education.

It’s also been a case of “in at the deep end” for Wyvern College’s new headmaster Paul German.

“What an exciting time to start a job as a new headmaster at this marvellous school,” he said. “In a year or so we will have modern new school buildings which will be an inspiration for the talented boys here.

“The new layout will help the staff and myself deliver the best opportunities for them. This investment underlines how critical a dynamic and successful Wyvern College is for education in the Salisbury area.”

Mr Glen added: “The funding of this project is the first step on the road to a creative learning environment for these boys. It has been exciting to be involved in the planning and the persuasion processes at the highest levels of the Department of Education.”

The project is being carried out by the Kier Construction Group. As well as refurbishment of the main building in Church Road, there will be two modern teaching blocks designed to house the school’s engineering and technology facilities, due to open next September.

Parents and prospective Wyvern College pupils have been invited to an open evening on October 2 at 5.30pm. It is a chance to ask questions about the project and pick up a new prospectus. They will also be able to take a virtual tour to gain a better impression of how the new buildings will look inside and out.

Wyvern College’s head boy Rob Neale, 15, said: “This is going to be great for the school and hopefully inspire both the boys here today and those who will come here in the future.”