A £4.5 MILLION revamp of Brentwood's newest school is underway this summer holiday, in preparation for a large increase in pupil numbers.
Becket Keys CofE School, in Sawyers Hall Lane, will more than double in size when an extra 150 pupils join in September, adding to the existing 123 who will move up to Year 8.
In order to cater for the extra pupils, large parts of the school buildings are being revamped, and classrooms which have been unused for some time, are being reopened.
When it opened, the school was predominately based in the newest building on the site.
It is now taking over the entire former Margaret Hutton block, now known as the Carey Building, home to its current reception, with staff offices on the ground floor.
The majority of the work is taking place on the three upper storeys, where walls are been removed and offices taken out to provide larger classrooms, bright corridors and break-out spaces.
Head teacher of Essex's first CofE free school, Andy Scott-Evans, said: "Increased student numbers at Becket Keys mean a dramatic increase in the facilities that are required.
"Our new buildings will complement our already high quality extensive grounds and provide our students with excellent resources for learning."
"It has been a huge project and I am very proud of all that has been achieved. It is wonderful to see the school coming to life in these new buildings.
"I am looking forward to showing families round in September and October at our open days."
The money for the work, which totals £4.5m, is coming directly from the Education Funding Agency as part of the cash for free schools.
The refurbishment has seen new heating, lighting, electrics and ICT infrastructure, plus furnishings and decoration.
A new boiler house is being installed over the summer holiday, along with a lift tower for disabled access to the main hall.
New doors and carpets are being fitted and security is being upgraded in the form of a new perimeter wall and railings, digital CCTV and fire alarm systems.
Becket Keys opened in September last year.
A new year group of up to 150 pupils will be taken in each year until the Becket Keys School reaches its maximum capacity of 1,050 pupils.
The 25-acre site was previously home to Sawyers Hall College, which closed in August 2012.
