Work on Chardstock's new £3 million primary school is set to start soon.

And children and staff could move into the new Church of England school at Easter 2009, if everything goes according to plan.

A planning application has now been approved for the new building on a site next to the village hall.

The new school will be able to accommodate 120 children and will replace the current mainly Victorian building. It will be finished in a mix of stone and render.

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As well as four classrooms with spectacular views over the valley and their own outdoor areas, the new school will have a netball and soccer pitch with a special viewing area, a wildlife wetland and other facilities for outdoor learning.

The classrooms will be equipped with interactive whiteboards and the internal corridors will all be naturally lit.

It is intended that the school's facilities will be made available for community use.

Headteacher Morag Kingsbury said: "It's going to be absolutely fantastic.

"These exciting new facilities will enable us to deliver 21st century learning whilst retaining our values of caring for each other.

"The children told us some of the things they would like in the new school and they've now looked at the plans. They really are very excited about it.

"It's been very exciting for me as well and a huge privilege to have been able to have an input into the design."

(JM)