Exmouth Community College is celebrating after being given £2.4million for new classrooms.

The college has received £1.6million from the Government’s Condition Improvement Fund, which along with £800,000 from Devon County Council will pay for phase one of a new teaching block on the college’s Gipsy Lane site.

The college says this will allow it to meet demand for places.

College principal Tony Alexander said: “The replacement building on the Gipsy Lane site will be a wonderful opportunity to further improve the teaching environment, which will provide safe and exciting opportunities for learning.

“This is another significant step in our bid to provide the best facilities we can for our students and staff to enable us to build upon our recent examination success.

“I am particularly grateful to the project team who worked so hard to achieve this vision.”

Chair of governors Jill Elson said: “I am very appreciative of all the hard work of the staff involved in partnership with Devon County Council.

“It must be remembered that we are bidding for these Government grants in competition with many other schools in the UK.”

Councillor McInnes, Devon County Council’s cabinet member for schools, said: “I am delighted the Government has recognised our financial support and strategic cooperation with Exmouth Community College.

“This will not only ensure 21st century learning facilities for the students, but it will also mean sufficient places will be available in the longer term in the secondary sector in Exmouth.”

The latest grant for the college follows the award of a grant from the Government’s Priority School Building Programme in February, to refurbish or rebuild the humanities block on the Green Close site, which could total between £4.3million and £8million. The college is now awaiting a decision on an application to refurbish its language quad, which should be made around the end of May.