LARKMEAD School in Abingdon could be transformed into an all-ages ‘learning village’, complete with theatre, cinema and sports complex.

That is the vision emerging from ongoing consultations into how best to use millions of pounds earmarked to fund a rebuild of the 850-pupil school, which serves one of the most deprived areas of Oxfordshire.

Headmaster Chris Harris has outlined how Larkmead could change over the coming decade, if funding is not cut by the new Government.

Even if the £62m promised for four Oxfordshire schools in March does not materialise, Mr Harris said big changes would still take place at Larkmead.

They include letting members of the public of all ages study in over-16 classes and opening new arts and sports facilities on site, including a theatre and sports complex to be shared with the rest of Abingdon.

If the plan to demolish and rebuild up to 70 per cent of the old buildings goes ahead, the school’s badge and uniform could also change as part of a relaunch of the school.

Construction work could start as early as 2013.

Mr Harris said: “We have asked ourselves, how extensively do we want to be a hub of our community.”

He said the school had received an extensive and mainly positive response, broadly in favour of putting municipal facilities on the site.

He added; “We have asked Vale of White Horse District Council’s arts and sports development officers to look at how they can attract business partners into working with us to produce joint art and culture, sports and recreation facilities.

“If the money does come through and they could add money to that, we could create better facilities.

“We have no theatre in Abingdon, and we have no form of cinema, for example.”

Now Mr Harris wants the local community to discuss how the school should change, before its draft strategy for change is published on June 22.

He added: “In 10 years, I see Larkmead as being a place where people regularly come at different stages of life.

It would be far more like a village community, where there would be a mix of ages working in school and learning in school.

“We want learning to become less isolated and rarefied.

“We can imagine mixed-aged classes post-16. That has certainly been discussed and welcomed at the working party looking into this.”

Larkmead is currently listed alongside Banbury School and Cheney and Iffley Mead Special schools, both in Oxford, to benefit from the outgoing Labour Government’s £62m Building Schools for the Future fund.

Following the election, the new Conservative-Liberal coalition has announced it is reviewing the whole programme.

Mr Harris said: “We will proceed anyway and see what we can do ourselves.

“We will continue to work to change the learning culture.”

abingdon@oxfordmail.co.uk To take part in the public consultations, go to the website at bsf.larkmead-school.com/