A SCHOOL is celebrating after its proposed building programme was given a half a million pound boost by the Government.Leiston Middle School is to receive the windfall as part of a £4 million package for school buildings in Cambridgeshire, Southend on Sea, Suffolk and Thurrock.

A SCHOOL is celebrating after its proposed building programme was given a half a million pound boost by the Government.

Leiston Middle School is to receive the windfall as part of a £4 million package for school buildings in Cambridgeshire, Southend on Sea, Suffolk and Thurrock.

Schools Minister Catherine Ashton announced the awards as part of a drive towards replacing old, poor quality school buildings, helping with special needs provision in mainstream schools, and creating new buildings.

Leiston middle school head Richard Nichols described the award as "fantastic" and said staff were "delighted".

The money would help towards an ambitious scheme to remove three old buildings and create two teaching blocks and a new gymnasium from the four teaching blocks which exist at present – although more funds would be needed, he said.

"It will make a huge difference to the school. We have a difficult site with lots of teaching blocks and it will rationalise that site and give us some modern facilities," he said.

He is hoping to attract more money for the proposed scheme, which the school has wanted to carry out for the past ten years.