A SCHOOL has opened its new canteen as part of a £2.2million major expansion of the premises.

Extra classrooms are also being built at Tudor Grange Academy, in Bilford Road, Worcester.

Worcestershire County Council has funded the extension in a bid to tackle the shortage of secondary school places in Worcester.

Principal Samantha Roach said: “Kier is making excellent progress with our extension.

“The restaurant has been completed and we are benefitting from seating for an extra 60 [pupils].

“We are already feeling the benefit of the extra space in the restaurant and are pleased with how well it has blended in with the rest of the school."

The school will be able to offer places to an additional 150 students as a result of the expansion.

The extended canteen will be accompanied by three science laboratories, a science preparation and storage room, four general classrooms and three more relaxed ‘breakout space’ teaching areas.

Construction work started in August last year and is due to be completed in April.

One Bilford Road resident raised concerns about the proximity of the extension to his home.

He said he would feel uncomfortable with students overlooking his property.

But school bosses reassured him that they would plant trees along the boundary to stop pupils from being able to look into his house.

The extension was designed by architects Feilden Clegg Bradley to be in keeping with the existing building.

Tudor Grange Academy teaches students aged between 11 and 18.