Plans to transform a secondary school into a state-of-the art facility and totally rebuild it have been revealed.

The Comet: An artists impression of how the new school will lookAn artists impression of how the new school will look (Image: Archant)

The Highfield School in Letchworth GC is set to be transformed under the Education Funding Agency’s priority schools building programme, rolled out by the Government.

An open afternoon and evening was held at the school last Tuesday for people to view the plans, which are now being finalised before being submitted to Hertfordshire County Council.

Ian Morris, headteacher at the school for the past six years, said: “I am delighted with the designs which are due to go to planning.

“With state of the art buildings and an internal design that is much more sophisticated, this represents a real opportunity to move education into the 21st century at The Highfield School.

“What is particularly pleasing is that the new school has been designed very much with the garden city ethos in mind. We are retaining the green feel of the school and opening up a panoramic vista across the landscape which at the moment we can’t really see.”

If the plans are approved, building work is expected to start in March next year, with the sports hall the only current building set to be retained.

To minimise disruption to students the new school will be built first and, once complete, the old buildings will then be demolished and the grounds relandscaped.

It is anticipated that by the summer of 2015 the new build will be completed, ready for the start of term in September.

North Hertfordshire District Council is currently holding pre-planning application discussions.

District councillor Terry Hone, who represents the Letchworth South ward, said: “This is a golden opportunity to enhance the facilities for the benefit of the local students. Obviously there will be some concerns over construction traffic, but clauses will be put in the plans as part of the planning process.”

Highfield, which has 1050 pupils and opened in 1965, joined with Fearnhill School in April to create the Letchworth Garden City Education Partnership, which is supported by the University of Hertfordshire and the Co-operative Group.

The partnership means the two Letchworth GC schools will share best practice, collaborate on curriculum development and use collective buying power.