A £1.5m improvement scheme at Chipping Norton School will include a new art block and the remodelling of the design and technology facilities.

Oxfordshire County Council's executive has agreed to finance the project.

A new four-class art block will be built, and the art and technology rooms in the existing building will be up-dated to create five workshops, an electronics room, a textiles room, and a food technology room.

Better storage and preparation areas will also be developed, and more room will be found for teaching ICT and business studies.

Work on the project is expected to begin in August, with the new art rooms scheduled to be finished in March 2007.

The second phase will start in April 2007 and be completed in time for use from September 2007.

The county council's executive member for schools improvement, Michael Waine, said: "This investment will provide Chipping Norton School with modern, purpose-built, specialist facilities for the teaching of art and design and technology.

"It will make an enormous difference to pupils, teaching staff, and the whole school community."

Headteacher Simon Duffy said: "We are very excited about the improvements. They will have a real impact on the opportunities for learning, and the new art block will make sure we are equipped to the highest standards as we look further into the 21st century."