SITE surveys are being carried out at Hexham’s Queen Elizabeth High School as part of preparations for a scheme of repair work funded by central Government.

It was revealed early last year that the school had won a significant share of the second phase of the Government’s £140m Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) in the North-East to improve dilapidated school buildings.

The first wave of funding saw £12.5m secured for Prudhoe Community High School to cover the cost of the brand new building which opened its doors to students in September.

In Hexham, the details of the exact budget allocated for Queen Elizabeth High are not confirmed, but it is understood it could amount to at least a million pounds.

And that’s good news for the school’s sixth form.

For top of the list for vital repair work is the once grand, but now crumbling Hydro building, which is its home.

Also included in the facelift are the winter gardens and sports pavilion, but work is not expected to get under way for at least 18 months.

Executive headteacher, Graeme Atkins, said: “The Education Funding Agency (EFA) announced that Queen Elizabeth High School was to be included in phase two of the Government’s Priority School Building Programme, which is a programme designed to improve the condition of schools in most urgent need of repair.

“Within the scope of the project at QEHS are refurbishments of the school’s hydro building, winter gardens and sports pavilion.

“Site surveys are currently under way as part of the feasibility stage of the project and, following their conclusion, the EFA will meet with the school to agree definitive intentions.

“Works for schools within the same batch as QEHS are currently scheduled for Spring 2018.”