A GREAT Witley school will soon be seeing new and improved facilities for its pupils.

Work has begun on the £400,000 major building project at Abberley Hall School in response to an increase in student numbers.

The school, which caters for boys and girls aged two to 13, now has a total of 300 children.

A new department for eight and nine-year-olds will be provided under the project, undertaken by Tenbury contractors Simon Pearce Building and Ground Works, which includes classrooms and chill-out areas.

Its opening in September will mean additional space will also be provided for girl boarders.

John Walker, headmaster of Abberley Hall, said: “Nationally, boarding schools which cater for girls are seeing a rise in demand for places and we are no exception.

“The new bedrooms and study areas for girls in the top year will provide excellent accomodation and we are looking forward to all the work being completed in time for our new academic year this September.

“Our children, who have the choice to be day pupils or boarders, are drawn largely from the West Midlands and mid-Wales but also come from all over the UK and abroad, many of which are Forces children.

“We are one of the few preparatory schools in the region offering full boarding facilities and are delighted that pupil numbers continue to grow.”