A BURNHAM junior school will benefit from a �550,000 investment to give it the space it needs.

St Andrew’s Junior in Dunstan Road, Burnham, is an over-subscribed school making the most of the space it has. The school was still rated as outstanding in its last inspection, despite teaching taking place in classes of up to 38 pupils.

Somerset County Council’s cabinet member for schools, John Osman, said: “New classrooms, built for the purpose, will make the school experience even better for the children.

“I’m pleased we are able to continue the investment in schools which has been �40million since 2009, and expected to grow by another �17million by 2013.”

The new classrooms are expected to open in spring and autumn 2013.

Acting headteacher, Gavin Morris, said: “We have been given a lot of investment over the last six or seven years and this has come out of the blue, so I am really pleased.

“From a personal perspective, it’s a healthy problem we have. We are hoping to extend onto a small area of playground and then replace it elsewhere so that we will be able to teach the school in 11 classes rather than ten.”