A major expansion is beginning at St Peter’s Primary School this week - as builders move in to begin work on new classrooms.

The two new classrooms will be constructed on the site of the old drill hall next to the Venture Hall.

Headteacher Steve Hitchcock has hailed the arrival of the new facilities.

He said that the school has in the past had to turn prospective pupils away - but it will now have the capacity to cope with Budleigh’s growing population and demand.

Mr Hitchcock said: “This is excellent news for the school and will mean we will have 10 classrooms from September.

“This is an increase of one classroom, as the current year four classroom will be taken out of use and eventually demolished.

“It increases our capacity and, fantastically, will bring class sizes down to around 24 from September.”

The funding for the new classrooms has been provided by the Diocese of Exeter and Devon County Council.

The Church of England school has issued its thanks to the diocese, which it says has provided additional funding for the project that regular maintained schools would not have been able to receive.

Jason Down, from the diocesan team, will be managing the project for the school.

Diocesan director of education Philip Mantell said: “I am delighted that the governors have achieved their objective of new buildings and that it will have a great impact on the quality of teaching and learning for the children involved.”

Project contractors Skinners are also set to provide opportunities for the school’s children to learn about the building process as it happens, with the firm’s commercial director Andrew Sturgess, who is also a parent at the school, overseeing the project.