BIG money plans to rebuild Wyvern Community School have been revived, after the Government earmarked �14million for the project.

The Marchfields Way campus was initially shortlisted among the first wave of North Somerset redevelopments in the ill-fated Building Schools for the Future scheme.

However, the change of Government last year, followed by stringent public sector cutbacks, meant many of the feted rebuilding plans were ditched.

This also saw plans to convert Wyvern into an academy school thrown into doubt, with a change that was initially planned for last September put on hold.

However, the academy switch is now back on and scheduled for May 1 – and rebuilding hopes were this week revived too.

Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, has revealed Wyvern – or Hans Price Academy, as it will be known – has been allocated �14million to redevelop its buildings and surrounding site.

This means students at the new academy will be studying in a modern, purpose-built campus packed full of state-of-the-art teaching kit.

David Carter, executive principal of the Cabot Learning Federation, the organisation which will run Hans Price Academy, says work will begin as soon as the money is in place.

He said: “The disappointment of not being able to open in September has been erased by this fantastic news.

“We want to make Hans Price Academy an outstanding school, and the new buildings will give us an opportunity to make this a reality.

“Buildings alone do not transform lives, but if young people and staff get the chance to work in a fantastic environment it increases the possibility of this success happening very quickly.”

And the news has also been welcomed within North Somerset Council’s education department.

Cllr Jeremy Blatchford, executive member for children and young people’s services, said: “We are delighted at the funding allocation for this project.

“As a council we are committed to providing inspirational new and remodeled learning facilities.

“We are keen to work with the Cabot Learning Federation to enable the staff and pupils to continue, in new facilities, their journey to achieving educational excellence.”