The New Year will see big changes for a Holt school, after it got permission for an overhaul of its facilities.

Gresham's School was given the go-ahead for a £5m sixth form and music building, plus big improvements to four boarding houses at its Cromer Road site.

The scheme, developed by Norfolk-based LSI Architects, includes the music building, with classrooms, practice rooms, a recording studio, a 140-seat auditorium that will be used as a sixth form lecture theatre as well as performing space, cafeteria and social spaces for pupils.

Four boarding houses will be improved, with permanent extensions planned for Crossways, Kenwyn, Edinburgh and Britten. Douglas Robb, Gresham's headmaster, said: 'I, together with the pupils, staff and governors, am very excited about the forthcoming developments here at Gresham's School.

'Music plays a significant role in the daily life of the pupils, so it's vital that we can provide them with first class equipment and facilities and I am confident that, by building this wonderful focal point for the school, we'll be able to do just that.'

He added: 'Equally, it's important that we offer our boarders a place that they can call home while they are at Gresham's. The extensions and planned improvements to four of our boarding houses will ensure that the houses continue to be welcoming, homely and comfortable for existing pupils and those looking to join Gresham's in the future.'

Improvement works are expected to start in March 2016.

A school spokesman said the design of the extensions and new building integrated well with the existing buildings in terms of appearance, with the use of the same materials throughout.

? A model of the sixth form and music building is on display in Gresham's Senior School reception area and can be viewed between 9am and 3pm, Monday to Friday.