Later this month construction begins at Penwortham Priory Academy on a new £1m languages and humanities centre.

Significant rebuilding work at the Academy has taken place over the past 13 years, with new ICT rooms, the Science, English and Maths blocks block as well as the technology centre. Now further work will continue to develop the Academy buildings so that the students can thrive in a modern environment.

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With help from the Academies Trust the Priory will undergo extensive remodeling and updating to create bright, open classrooms, a new feature entrance and heating system and significant improvements to the fabric of the building.

Top North West architects Cassidy + Ashton designed the new centre. Preston-based Conlon Construction will start work on the project which is due to continue until April 2014.

Jim Hourigan, head of Penwortham Priory, commented: “The school has been here for 60 years – we celebrate our 60th anniversary this year – and obviously some of it is still the original building.

“It’s time to move things forward to reflect the current climate with more learning space and to be more flexible.

“We bucked the national trend with our GCSE results this year, with a sharp rise in students achieving grades A*-C in Maths and English.

“As a school we are going from strength to strength and the new buildings will help us continue to build for the future. It’s for humanities and languages but there will also be a music studio and a performing area.”

The 50 year old firm Cassidy + Ashton has worked on a range of well-known buildings including UCLan’s faculty of dentistry, Stonyhurst College, and the £43m new Spar distribution centre at Preston East.

Alistair Baines, director at Cassidy + Ashton, said: “Over the last decade, Priory has undergone major redevelopment in recognition of its status as a specialist sport and technology college.

“The new languages and humanities building will add to the school’s long list of top-class facilities, and our designs will incorporate the same use of bright open spaces to create a truly modern learning environment.”