Work on a new sports hall for Poole Grammar School has begun, with ground works underway.

The steel frame for the building will be going up in November and the project is due to be completed by August 2023.

Headteacher, Dr Amanda Smith, and chair of governors, Dr Ken Power, viewed the site with representatives of the project team including Marcus Drysdale and Colin Johnson – managing director and group operations director respectively of Acheson Construction Ltd.

Dr Amanda Smith said: “After such a long wait, the commencement of this project is a really exciting one for the school. It will transform our provision for sport, fitness and health within school, as well as enabling us to open up significant opportunity for community use.”

Dr Ken Power said: “For too long during the ‘Austerity Years’ we have struggled with inadequate facilities, whilst seeking approval and funding for this vital project. We will finally be able to offer all our students the opportunities they deserve to experience the widest possible range of sport and fitness activities, developing habits to last a lifetime. I take the opportunity to thank our bursar Jonathan Stiby for his dogged tenacity in pursuing this project to its successful conclusion.”