Weston academy gets £14m grant for building work

An artists' impression of the new Hans Price Academy building has been created

An academy in Weston-super-Mare has been awarded a £14m government building grant to fund major works.

The Hans Price Academy, formerly known as Wyvern Community School, will replace several existing rooms with an "exciting and vibrant" new building.

Principal Armando Di Finizio said it was an "exciting time for the academy and for Weston-super-Mare".

"The proposed design... will meet the needs of generations of students for many years to come," he added.

"Work will start on site, subject to planning, early in 2013 with completion planned for September 2014," he added.

Victorian architect

Willmott Dixon, which recently completed Yate International and Hereford academies, has been named construction partner.

Mr Di Finizio said there would be a "detailed consultation" with the local community and all partners in the next six weeks.

The secondary school in Marchfields Way was opened as an academy by educational charity, the Cabot Learning Federation in May 2011.

The federation's website states it sponsors 10 academies in Bristol, Weston super Mare and Bath, and is responsible for 5,000 students and more than 600 staff.

The Hans Price Academy is named after a Victorian architect who was central to the development of Weston as a resort.

A public consultation meeting will be held at the academy from 18:30 to 20:30 BST on 6 September.