WORK has begun on the £1.8million expansion programme at Alcester High School Technology College which will see the end of temporary classrooms on the Gerrard Road site.

A two-storey extension to the English block will add 12 new classrooms and there will be improvements to the art and music departments, including the addition of practise rooms for musicians.

Headteacher Annabelle Guyver said: "There is going to be a lot of disruption while the work is going on, but it will be a relief to get rid of the mobile classrooms.

"There were three or four 30 years ago but the school has grown since then and every time more pupils joined, we had to have another mobile classroom."

The project, which is due for completion in spring 2005, is being paid for out of basic need and modernising funds.