PUPILS at Wood Farm Primary School are about to move into their multli-million pound block, following the completion of the first phase of building.

The Titup Hall Drive school is undergoing a £10.5m transformation over three years, after securing cash in the dying days of the last Government before other projects around the county were axed.

And after a year’s work, the £3.7m first phase is complete.

The Slade and Headington Children’s Centre moved into its new premises in June, and now pupils at the neighbouring school are set to start using two new classrooms.

An upstairs hall, which will one day become a community resource, will be used as the temporary school hall and kitchen when the next phase of demolition starts later this year.

Headteacher David Lewin said: “It’s tremendously exciting to see it taking shape and the first buildings in use.

“It has been a long run-up, but to have spaces now in use by members of the community, and families using the children’s centre, is great.

“The pupils are very excited. We have talked a lot about the development in our assemblies. ”

The three-year project will see the old 1950s school gradually demolished with new buildings put up in its place.

Huge temporary classrooms in the school grounds are being used for many lessons, but demolition of the main bulk of the building will not start until later this year.

Mr Lewin said: “We hope this time next year we will be beginning to use the new building more extensively.”

Abindon-based construction firm Leadbitter – which supports the Oxford Mail’s School SOS campaign – carried out the transformation. Its regional director Cliff Thomas said: “The new facilities at Wood Farm School have already been a great success for the local area, with the community facilities in particular already well-used by local organizations.”

The rebuild will include a new community café, art studio, drama studios, a food technology workshop and a new school hall.

Sue Vermes, who runs the children’s centre, said 180 families were already using the new building. She said: “It’s a wonderful building.”