BY the new academic year, St Michael's Primary School will be able to enrol an extra 160 pupils.

As part of Essex schools' expansion and the need for additional school places, St Michael's will move from one to two-form entry.

The topping-out ceremony at its Camulodunum Way site signalled a crucial stage in the building of their new steel structure, made of glass with external cladding.

Headteacher Gail Burns said: "They'll be eight new classrooms - six on the ground floor and two on the top.

"It's quite a large expansion from one class per year to two, and the school is already over-subscribed so we won't be able to further expand until we have a certain amount of children to fill those classes.

"The handover is August 31 and we will take in new children from September 10."

It has been a priority for Mrs Burns to provide much-needed school places for children locally who are having to instead travel outside of their catchment area.

Doing so creates an important opportunity to build even better relationships with families.

As part of the school's five-year expansion plan more teaching and support staff will be hired in the future too.

She said: "I'm really looking forward to it.

"We've been very fortunate as we have quite extensive grounds so we've been able to build partially on the school field, but been able to maintain three-quarters of the field so it can still be used as a community facility for Colchester and District Youth Football League.

"Morgan Sindall construction has been absolutely fantastic. We've had a celebration assembly and the children have to been able to see inside some of the classrooms, sit in a digger and even been taught first aid, so they're all very excited."