AN Accrington school has won £2million of funding for a two-phase building programme.

St Christopher's CE High will have a new sports hall and state-of-the-art performing arts suite, each costing £1 million. The news was announced by headteacher Alasdair Coates at the school's annual speech night last night.

Work on the 550 square metres sports hall should start in March, with completion possibly in time for the start of the next academic year. It will have changing facilities, and space for four badminton courts, offering scope for a variety of indoor sports. There will also be a lift for the disabled to get from the ground floor to the first floor changing rooms.

The existing gymnasium, built with the school in 1958, will still be available for gymnastics and dances, but will also be fitted with removable tiered seating for year group assemblies.

"It means that where at present our older pupils have to go to the sports centre every week for their PE lessons, in future we will be able to have all facilities on site," said Mr Coates.

Once the first phase is finished, work will begin on the performing arts suite, which will incorporate a new music department with practice rooms, two classrooms, instrument stores and computer facilities for music, including composition software. It will also feature a drama studio, a new library, and a corridor will be built to connect all parts of the school at first floor level.

Most of the funding -- 90 per cent -- came from the government's major improvement programme, with the rest coming from the church and parents who raised £250,000.

"I'm absolutely delighted," Mr Coates went on. We have worked for two years to put this submission together with the diocese and local education authority.

"The purpose is to make the school suitable for the 21st century in terms of teaching space, specialist accommodation and proper association areas. We feel this will make a huge difference to the school and the quality of provision we can give the youngsters."