STUDENTS and staff at a Colchester school are celebrating after winning £2 million of funding for a new science and technology block.

The money which has been awarded to St Helena School is the biggest financial investment the school has received since it was built nearly 80 years ago.

The new block will house four science laboratories and three new food technology rooms, with a food preparation area downstairs.

The new facilities are desperately needed.

The current building's wooden structure is rotting and they are cold and damp and suffer from severe condensation.

Two prefabricated buildings, which are no longer fit for purpose, will also be replaced. The funding for the project comes following a bid to the Education Funding Agency last December.

It is hoped the new facilities will be ready for use by September 2015.

Head teacher Zoe King, who thanked Ingleton Wood for their support, said the new facilities will help the school as it works towards a good Ofsted rating.

Miss King said: "This is a huge achievement for the school.

"We have secured the biggest financial investment the school has received since it was built in 1936.

"We are thrilled at the opportunities that these modern facilities will offer our students and staff, together with the impact that they will have on our students’ learning.”