SKERNE Park Academy is investing £350,000 in a new sports hall, two extra classrooms and an interior renovation.

Alterations will also be made to the school entrance and the additional classrooms will enable it to admit an extra 15 pupils each year.

Headteacher Kate Chisholm said: “Unfortunately, we have had to turn some children away as we couldn’t accommodate them, but now this won’t be the case, so this is fantastic news.

“The school will now be able to accept every child from the Skerne Park area and give them the opportunity to attend their local school.”

A planning application will be considered by Darlington Council’s planning committee next week and if approved, the work could start in Easter.

Skerne Park is also seeking a further £150,000 from the Academies Grant Fund to go towards building a new hall and changing rooms, along with other developments.

Ms Chisholm said: “If we receive this additional funding, it will be another boost for Skerne Park, as we will be able to cater for the wider community who will be able to benefit from the facilities outside of school hours.”

Skerne Park was one of five in the borough earmarked for expansion as part of the council’s School Organisation Plan - an overview of supply and demand for primary school places across the town for the coming years.

An extra 385 extra school places have been planned using a pot of £1.5m Government funding to meet future expected demand.