COUNCILLORS gave the go ahead for work to start on a £29million high school in Newport.

Work could start on the replacement for Hartridge High School as early as next month, after Newport’s cabinet approved recommendations for the school to be built according to the original state-of-the art specifications on Tuesday.

Richard O’Neil, of HLM Architects, who designed both Newport High School in Bettws and the new Hartridge building, gave a presentation to cabinet members at yesterday’s meeting, highlighting how the new school has been designed to inspire pupils to further their education.

Brett Pugh, chief education officer, said the new school was part of a bigger programme to transform learning and education in Newport.

He said: “There’s no point in taking old fashioned teaching styles into a different age. The key thing is that we keep the impetus moving forward. Ultimately this is about a wider programme and making sure standards rise.”

The current school is deemed to be unsuitable for numerous reasons including the state of disrepair of the three buildings and lack of disabled access.

Hartridge will be the second replacement school to be built as part of the council’s major secondary school redevelopment programme, which aims to raise education standards, offer first class community facilities and providing employment opportunities.

Council leader, Cllr Matthew Evans, said: “This is absolutely brilliant news, not just for the teachers and pupils at the school, but for the community because this will be a community facility. It’s all systems go.”

It is intended that the new school, which will have two teaching wings wrapped around a central atrium catering for 1,450 pupils, will link the school to the community.

The proposed timetable will see enabling works beginning at the end of May with construction due to start in July. Work is expected to be completed by spring 2012.