King's Lynn Academy will be able to teach more than 1,100 pupils when its �10m rebuild is complete next year.

Last night, the vice principal in charge of the project said it heralded 'a whole new ethos' for the former Park High campus.

Work on the new teaching block, paid for by central government, began in March. Concrete piles were sunk over the summer holidays.

Now the concrete floor has been laid and the new building's steel framework is rapidly taking shape. Staff hope the new block will be completed by easter.

'It's huge because it's a complete refurbishment of two blocks and a new build for a third,' said vice principal Robert Ogden.

'We've got brand new science facilities. We've got areas where much larger groups of children can be taught.

'There's a new dance studio, new IT and music - it's a complete overhaul. It's a whole new ethos, a whole new direction. These are exciting times.'

Mr Ogden said the academy, which took over the Park High site off Queen Mary Road two years ago, expected to increase from 650 to 1,100 pupils as Lynn continues to grow. Thousands of new homes are planned for the A10 corridor to the south of the town.

'I hope the new building will make other students come here,' said Year 7 student Katelyn Reed, 11. 'The building is outstanding.'

Fellow pupil Melvin Araujo, 11, said: 'I think the new building is going to make the school look cool and make more people come to the academy.'

Class-mate Harvey Luker, 11, said: 'The new building will be amazing for learning with other people.'

Alongside the new block, the entire campus is being modernised. Areas which have already been finished have a bright, modern feel.

When the project is completed, in September, the academy will boast brand new learning suites for technology, business, science, art and music, along with new classrooms for English, maths, languages and humanities.