A school’s bid for £3.4million to replace temporary classrooms has been given the go- ahead.

Oakwood Park Grammar School in Maidstone wants to build a permanent 16-classroom block to replace a temporary buildings erected in 2000.

The 14 classrooms currently house 420 students and the school has been forced to implement a one-way system to counteract the overcrowding when students move and allow for the numbers of students moving between classrooms.

The new purpose-built block will have a learning resources area which will include a library, computer section and sixth form study area. The previous library had to be brought turned into a classroom two years ago.

Managers now hope work can begin in the summer, and it could be ready to open in the autumn next year.

Planning permission has also been applied for and a decision is expected later this month.

School bosses have organised the project out so that the temporary buildings will not be taken away until the new block is completed.

A school spokesman added: “This project will provide much-needed accommodation for the increasing number of students, as the school has not received any significant capital building investment since 1958.

“Our aim at Oakwood Park Grammar School is to constantly strive and serve the students who attend here. Each and every one of those 1012 individuals deserves a positive and safe space in which to learn, and so celebrations are in order for the success of the winning bid.”