Work will start this week on the £20m rebuild of King David High School and King David Primary School in Crumpsall.

The Eaton Road site is currently home to an 800-place high school and sixth form, a junior and infant school and nursery.

For the first time, Manchester is bringing together its Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme and Primary Capital Programme (PCP).

Work will be completed at the school in the winter of 2010 with pupils moving in during December 2010. The overall scheme, including the refurbishment of existing buildings, demolition and landscaping of the new school grounds will be finished by July 2011.

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The new 8,465 sq m building, will house a 420 place primary school, a 60 place nursery and the majority of the high school. The remainder of the high school accommodation will be provided in the existing sixth form and administration and music blocks.

Manchester City Council Leader, Sir Richard Leese, joined King David High School Chair of Governors, Joshua Rowe, last week to sign the development agreement, giving the green light for work to commence.

Sir Richard said: "The planned improvements at the King David schools are an exciting opportunity to create a new school campus fit for the 21st Century. They will also provide the facilities to allow delivery of a more rounded educational and social experience for the pupils."

The project will create and promote local job and training opportunities at all levels with the City Council assisting main contractor Laing O Rourke to recruit and train apprentices, in partnership with the Manchester Internships scheme for young people.

(CD/JM)