Construction work has started on a new £6 million state-of-the-art primary school in Honicknowle, Plymouth.

The new Shakespeare Primary School is due to open in September 2009, replacing West Park and Chaucer primary schools.

The project forms part of a £47 million PFI capital expenditure programme aimed at putting education at the heart of the city's regeneration. The programme involves the construction of seven new schools by 2010 and is designed to tackle the problems of outdated buildings and falling rolls in some areas.

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The new school will have 39 nursery places and 420 key stage one and two places for children aged three to 11. The single storey building will provide a host of modern facilities for the benefit of pupils and the wider community. They will include an Information and Communication Technology suite, a physical education hall and drama studio.

A junior size soccer pitch will be provided within the school boundary and a full sized soccer pitch with new changing rooms will be located on the current playing fields, next to the existing Chaucer Primary School.

Councillor Grant Monahan, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "This will be a building designed and shaped around the needs of 21st century education, giving local youngsters a bright and stimulating learning environment.

"One of its main purposes will be to nurture a climate of community education, inspiring adults to embrace the idea that you can keep on learning throughout your life. Education shouldn't be something which ends with your school days."

(CD/JM)