A NEW 16-classroom block at Corsham School has been built ready for the new term.

The new classroom block, which includes rooms for maths and English, cost £1.3 million.

An expansion of the school hall, which serves as a dining area and assembly hall, improvements to drama facilities and the building of new changing rooms are also planned.

Wiltshire County Council is investing another £650,000 in this phase, which will be completed within the first few weeks of term.

Major housing developments in the area, as well as the school's increasing popularity, prompted the need for more space.

Families from Chippenham, Melksham and Bath are now sending their children to Corsham and the expansion will house almost 500 extra pupils. It is the most significant development at the school since it was built 40 years ago.

Headteacher Martin Williams said Ofsted inspectors noticed there was not enough space during an inspection in 2000.