PERSHORE High School has been given the final thumbs up to go ahead with a multi million pound development.

The school was given the green light by planners at Wychavon District Council on Thursday in what was the "final piece in the jigsaw" of the expansion proposals.

As part of the plans, revealed in April, the existing modern languages block will be demolished.

This will be replaced with a new art block and bus canopy and create a new eight classroom block in place of the former art building.

The art block will be ready by April next year and the ten classroom teaching block for geography, history and religious studies is set to be built for April 2016.

It is possible thanks to the Education Funding Agency and the Academies Capital Maintenance Fund.

Speaking about the application at the planning committee meeting councillor Charles Tucker said it would replace an out of date building.

"It's a poor learning environment," he said. "We are very pleased the school got the funding and I think everybody should be giving it there 110 percent support."

Cllr David Brotheridge added: "The school does have an enviable academic record. Having just approved a lot of houses across the road it maybe advantageous to have facilities to support this."

The school welcomed the approval of the plans.

Headteacher Clive Corbett said: "The granting of planning permission is the final piece in the jigsaw as far as the improvements at the school are concerned.

"I am delighted at what the new facilities will offer our students and am excited that demolition of one of the old blocks will start straight away.

"I am hugely grateful to the EFA for its grant of £3.4 million and it means that our new Art block will be in place by April next year, with a ten classroom teaching block for Geography, History and Religious Studies will be ready for the same time in 2016."