THE headteacher of a Worcester school which could soon be moving sites says the chance to design a state-of-the-art building from scratch is "fantastic".

Allan Foulds has worked in conjunction with architects at Worcestershire County Council to create a replacement for Christopher Whitehead High School.

A contract committing supermarket giants Tesco to build the school was signed this week.

"It's been special to date because I have been given the opportunity to take a step back and look at the concept of what the ideal school will be," said Mr Foulds.

"I've visited other brand-new schools and found out what is happening in terms of state-of-the-art education.

"It's been fantastic and has given us the opportunity to think with a completely clean slate, imaginatively and practically.

"It's really very exciting. Schools are surprising places and children are surprising.

"I find myself getting excited about the possibility of what young people can achieved through a school designed to nurture their achievement

"The sky's the limit."

The school, which will be built on Earls Court Farm, Bromyard Road, is being built for 1,350 children.

The current Christopher Whitehead High School has 1,150 students.

Before the new one can be built it must receive planning permission from Worcestershire County Council's planning and regulatory committee, which meets in December to discuss the plans.

The public are also going to be consulted, and more detailed plans will be available for scrutiny in the next month.

The school will not just be for the 11-16 age group, however, as it will continue to provide space for clubs and organisations.

There will also be the opportunity for adults to use the facilities for education.

"We've an ambition to build on what's going on already so that the community use will be a more natural part of the school's life than at the moment," said Iain Paul, principal architect at Worcestershire County Council.

"The consultation will be a very open process. We're consulting all and sundry. Nothing is being hidden.

"If we didn't do this we would have to do something radical to deal with the issue of expanding pupil numbers."