A SCHOOL for children with special needs in Worcester is set to expand.

Regency High School has won £874,000 worth of funding from the government to build four new classrooms.

The classrooms will enable the secondary school in Carnforth Drive to welcome more pupils from Spring 2018 after it successfully argued it was 'bursting at the seams'.

The classrooms will cost £972,000, with the school providing the extra money on top of the funding from the Education Funding Agency.

The expansion will allow the school to cater for up to an additional 40 pupils.

Richard Soper, chairman of governors, thanked all those who had supported the bid including John Edwards, Worcestershire County Council's strategic commissioner for education and skills, Clare Marchant, the county council's chief executive and Worcester MP Robin Walker.

Mr Walker said: "Regency provides vital education and support for children with special needs from all over Worcestershire and I am delighted to see its bid for much needed funding for expansion has been successful.

"Worcester is lucky to have such a special school where young people with disabilities and learning difficulties can get targeted support and a wide ranging education.

"Over the years as MP I have visited Regency on a number of occasions and I have always been impressed with the learning and care going on there but I have also noted how demand for its services has been rising.

"With rising numbers of applications from families whose children would benefit from Regency's specialised services, I was keen to back their bid for expansion.

"It is great news that the success of this bid will mean more classrooms and better facilities for Regency High School."