A CHESTER school is to receive a revamp after winning a share of a Government funding pot.

Upton-by-Chester High School has been successful in its application to be part of the Schools Building Programme.

The Secretary of State for education said: "The investment to provide thousands of children access to new, modern classrooms as part of the Prime Minister’s Flagship School Rebuilding Programme. The projects will be backed by over £1bn of funding…work to deliver the projects will start immediately.

"It will include updating and modernising buildings, and creating state of the art facilities such as new sports halls, music rooms, science labs and dining areas."

In a letter to parents and carers, Upton High School headteacher Lee Cummins wrote: "Whilst we have spent much of the last few years updating areas of the school site there remain parts of our school estate, built in the 1970s, which are not suitable for 21st century learning.

"Whilst our learners achieve great things, we are delighted that we have the opportunity to provide the learners and staff with a learning environment which will inspire and motivate them further.

"Our mission is to help all our young people to ‘learn to shape the future’ and we are certain that this next step in our development will support all our learners. I am pleased for our school and our community."

The news has also been welcomed by City of Chester MP Chris Matheson, who said the funding bid had been a "real team effort" between the school and Cheshire West and Chester Council, adding he had been pushing Upton's case on numerous occasions.

He said: “This has been a real team effort. I was absolutely delighted when I received word that the most recent bid for funding has been successful.

"Over the years I have worked with successive headteachers, and indeed successive Education Secretaries, to raise awareness of the ongoing maintenance issues and structural challenges for the school.

"Whether it’s been nagging Ministers privately in the Commons tea room, or raising it at successive education questions, I have used every opportunity to push Upton’s case. Indeed one Education Secretary stopped me before a questions session and asked 'I presume you’re going on Upton High School again today Chris?' - they were right!

“Whilst Upton already delivers great results, there is no doubt in my mind that this money is going to transform the educational experience of pupils at Upton High School for generations and I want to thank the council for its long-standing commitment to identifying new funding opportunities in partnership with the school.”