Excitement is growing at a Letchworth school with the news that work on its £15 million rebuild is earmarked to start next month.

The Comet: An artist's impression of what the redeveloped Highfield School will look like.An artist's impression of what the redeveloped Highfield School will look like. (Image: Archant)

Highfield School has announced that the building of a new secondary school, hard and soft surface play areas, car parking and a multi-use games area will begin, subject to planning pre-conditions being met, during the May half-term.

The redeveloped school is expected to open in January 2017, before an additional six months of work is carried out to demolish the old buildings and turn the original school site into communal areas such as gardens, fields and a sports facilities for the students.

The project – which is funded by the government’s priority schools building programme – will supplement the recently refurbished pavilion and playing field at the school.

A school spokesman said: “We are pleased to announce we anticipate the new build works will commence, subject to certain pre-conditions being met, during May half-term.

The Comet: An artist's impression of life at the redeveloped Highfield School.An artist's impression of life at the redeveloped Highfield School. (Image: Archant)

“It is inevitable that some disruption may occur as part of the building process and we will be liaising with the contractor to ensure any impact is kept to a minimum for students, staff, parents and visitors alike.

“Students will be kept up to date with progress through assemblies and during tutor time and any issues will be dealt with as quickly and effectively as possible.

“We will also be creating a display so you will be able to see a model of the final expected build, photographs and other information at future school events such as parents’ evenings, so that you can review progress.”

Plans to redevelop Highfield were initially rejected by North Herts District Council planning committee members in 2014, but to the school’s joy the decision was overturned by a planning inspectorate in January.

The school has created a dedicated email address for parents’ enquiries which is newbuild@highfield.herts.sch.uk.