SHERSTON could have a new primary school by next September if Wiltshire County Council gives its approval to the scheme at a cabinet meeting next Thursday.

Proposals to build a six class primary school building at Upper Stanbridge Farm are tipped to usurp an existing plan to extend and improve the current buildings.

Malmesbury's county councillor, John Thomson, said: "I think this is a good project. It gives us the opportunity to provide Sherston with superb school facilities for many years to come."

The cost of the scheme will be £1.64m, which is higher than the £1.37m budgeted to add a four class extension and upgrade the fabric of the current school building.

Following the council's consent, design and planning work could begin immediately and planners hope to have the building completed as early as possible in the 2003-2004 academic year.

Bob Wolfson, the chief education officer for Wiltshire County Council, is confident that the new proposal will be given the backing of cabinet.

"I do not think any member is in disagreement, it just needs authorisation to happen," he said.

The new building would have playground space and playing fields adjacent to it.

Provisions in the old plans meant that during any expansion the school's staff and 150 pupils would have to be moved to mobile classrooms for up to six months.

In the new plan, all work would be remote from the existing school site, so teaching could continue undisrupted.

Headteacher of Sherston School, Nick Bowditch, said: "As well as the main school building, we are teaching in four mobile classroom buildings at the moment and we are fast approaching our capacity.

"Any building on this site would reduce the limited ground space we have. To have a new school building will provide us a school that meets Government standards and provides more space to teach in."

Council chiefs gave their backing to redevelop the current school site in 2000. But more money than expected was raised from the sale of the replacement school site at Manor Close and further land at Butler's Close.

Sherston Parish Council made the suggestion that the extra proceeds raised from the sale could be used to provide a replacement school on a site outside the development boundary of Sherston.

The two-acre replacement site was bought by Bryant Homes for more than £3m. The building firm placed the highest bid for the plot and the sale was completed successfully two weeks ago.

Half of the cash will be used to provide the new school and the rest will be used to reduce the council's pension fund deficit.

The council has received 356 written votes of support for the new school.

In March, villagers Martin Rea and John Knight leafleted 300 residents explaining the benefits of a new school built elsewhere in the village.

The parish council and school governors have also got community backing for the project from a consultation exercise and at an open meeting held in Sherston recently.