Students at a Weston secondary school will soon be eating their lunches in purpose-built, modern surroundings, after work to build a new dining hall began.

The hall is being built at the front of Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College’s grounds as its current hall is not large enough to accommodate all pupils.

The issue concerning the small dining hall came to light after Broadoak’s student council raised it with the school’s senior leadership team. As a result, construction firm Wrencon Ltd began work on the new hall on July 14 and it is expected to last until the end of autumn.

A spokesman for the school in Windwhistle Road said: “Student council representatives raised the issue that the current dining hall was not large enough to accommodate all students and that there is very limited space elsewhere in the college for them to eat and socialise at break and lunch times.

“The senior leadership team, along with the college’s governors, believe this extension will make a significant difference by increasing the college’s dining capacity and providing a modern and bright area for students to use and enjoy.”

Headteacher Shelagh Pritchard said: “The dining room extension will significantly increase the number of students who can sit and eat their food each day, and therefore have a more social and enjoyable break and lunchtime experience.”