Work has begun on a modern new dining and courtyard area at Kesgrave High School, and is expected to be open this September.

The former youth club building adjacent to the school has been demolished and work has begun on the new building, which will provide a contemporary dining space and high street-style coffee shop for the school and sixth form’s older students.

Work is currently underway, with the foundations and steel structure in place and brickwork set to begin over the half term.

Cath Breckell, deputy headteacher at the school, said: “It’s going very well and we are on course for it to be open in September.

“As the school has grown we are still operating with the same dining hall since the school was half the size, so it is to add a new facility for the older students.”

Students at the school have been able to have their input into what the new space should include, with regular updates and design ideas through the school council.

The new space will also continue the school’s engagement with those in the community, with a coffee shop open until 10pm for the school’s pupils, and parents waiting to pick their children up.

“It’s going to be a good community facility – we opened out AGP [artificial grass pitch] floodlit football pitch and that has got clubs right up to 10 at night,” Miss Breckell added.

“The new space will be somewhere where parents instead of waiting for their children can have a coffee in the coffee shop, which will be open till 10 o’clock.”