A CITY primary school will soon double in size in a major £2.6m expansion project.

Old Sarum Primary School in Salisbury will also receive £600,000 for a new mobile classroom, furniture and equipment.

The construction of a two-storey, steel-frame building to include seven classrooms and a studio will see the school grow from 210 pupils to 420.

Extra playground areas, car parking and a drop off zone at the south end of the school will also be built during the 38-week project.

Laura Mayes, cabinet member for children’s services at Wiltshire Council said: “This development is part of our wider long-term investment programme to ensure young people in Wiltshire can learn in a thriving academic environment with sufficient places for all."

John Jones, head teacher at Old Sarum School, said: “This is an exciting time for Old Sarum Primary School. The plans for the building look beautiful.

"The expansion will give our pupils wonderful new facilities and resources.

"Everyone in the school is looking forward to enjoying this excellent learning environment.“

Jon Daines, area director at builder Morgan Sindall, said: “We’re so pleased to have been appointed to this important scheme which will help alleviate the demand for primary school places in Salisbury.

“We aim to draw upon our extensive experience working on live education projects across the UK to ensure that there is minimal disruption to children, staff and parents during the construction process."

The expansion is part of Wiltshire Council’s £93m three-year investment programme to create sufficient school places to accommodate pupil numbers in Wiltshire.

A further £10m is also earmarked for school maintenance over the three years.

The funding for the investment programme comes from the Department for Education and Section 106 contributions from developers.