Work to open Great Yarmouth's first new high school is picking up pace with the first official offers of places to students and teachers.

Trafalgar College will open at Thamesfield Way in Southtown in September, covering all subjects but specialising in science, technology, engineering and maths. The high school will open with just Year 7 pupils, growing year by year until full.

Executive principal Ian Burchett said plans for the school were progressing well, with more than 100 students offered places earlier this month.

'I'm delighted we have been able to offer places to everyone who signed up for Trafalgar College, and we have had a fantastic response with families getting back to us quickly to confirm their places,' said Mr Burchett.

'We are also still getting new enquiries from parents who have received an offer from Norfolk County Council for one of the existing high schools but want to explore their options, as we still have some spaces available for September.'

In at least one case a pupil who had missed out on their preferred school in Norwich has chosen to attend Trafalgar College instead.

Mr Burchett said the school had also made a raft of staff appointments, with future students meeting candidates and helping with the process.

'We have now appointed the leadership team and the majority of teaching staff, with some really strong candidates applying for each role. At a time when many schools are struggling to recruit we had more than 60 applications, and it was fantastic to have future students taking part in the selection process for the majority of the posts and helping to shape their school.

'It's been great to attract so many people who share our vision for a new, high achieving, academic school in the borough.'

The college has also submitted a planning application to use the existing office block on the seven-acre former Perenco site as its initial base, while the main site is redeveloped with brand new teaching and sport facilities.

'The plan is to refurbish the offices, which are already in good condition, so we can hit the ground running in September,' said Mr Burchett.

'It's going to be a remarkable experience for our pupils to see their new school being built before their eyes, and we look forward to incorporating as many of their ideas as possible in to the new buildings.'