MORE than a million pounds is being spent at Aireville School, Skipton, to provide a modern, fully equipped environment for its growing number of pupils.

For the first time in 15 years, the popular school has been able to embark on a major building programme.

The new accommodation costing £1,350,600 will create space for at least an additional 100 pupils taking the total to over 700.

The first phase, the 10 classroom Derwent Building, was officially opened by David Curry MP on Friday. It boasts five classrooms for English, four for maths and an information technology room.

Two of these rooms replaced temporary classrooms, and four replaced rooms in Aire Block which were taken over by Craven College.

But this is not the end of its expansion. It has announced a second phase, which should see two new labs, two workshops, two classrooms and small teaching areas.

Headteacher David Croll said: "Derwent Building is a very substantial addition to the facilities at Aireville. The rooms are all very well equipped and and the new information technology room has 26 computers, all linked to the school network and to the internet.

"Our pupils certainly deserve this standard of facilities.

"I can now announce that there will be a second building project starting at Aireville during the next academic year. The school will now be provided with more specialist rooms including science laboratories and workshops.

"This project is still at the planning stage but we know that there will be an additional building and major internal alterations to some areas in the school.

"This is a very exciting time for all of us at Aireville as we see the school build on its success, attract a growing number of pupils and move into modern well equipped accommodation."

He hoped that in the future the school could also build new PE facilities.

At the opening ceremony, Mr Curry said: "When I was first elected in 1987 Aireville School was a very different place to what it is now. But people are coming to Aireville now because they see a school which has made significant improvements and is continuing to get better every year.

"The Government is always talking about 'superheads' and David Croll is a superhead, but not one that thinks he can do it in two years. He has stayed and seen his work through for 10 years."

He added that whilst he had been an MP he had witnessed an improvement in the school's exam results and it continued to "turn out good citizens.

"Anyone visiting Aireville School senses there is a confidence, a sense of identity and a buzz about the place and this creates a wonderfully successful institution."