ONE of Bolton’s most popular schools has unveiled its multi-million pound transformation so it can be the first choice for more pupils.

Turton School will undergo £2.5 million extension and modernisation plans at the start of January.

The school is one of the schools the local authority has chosen to increase the numbers of pupils it can admit, Bolton Council funding the development project.

New classrooms will be built at the Bromley Cross school, as well as a new science lab and a new building to house a dining room.

Headteacher Sam Gorse said the work would modernise the building and benefit pupils throughout the school.

She said: “Once completed, in September 2018, these new facilities will greatly enhance our site provision.

“The building work will ultimately benefit all students at Turton.”

Ms Gorse added: “We are very excited about the plans, we will be able to create new modern learning zones, new areas. It will modernise the school.”

The school in Bromley Cross took on an additional 30 pupils in year seven this September.

Bolton Council say that at least 2,400 additional high school places will be needed by 2020.

Turton High School has been chosen to increase the numbers of places available because it is popular and often over-subscribed.

The school is in phase one of the programme to increase places, with the local education authority exploring and expanding other schools in the coming years.

Ms Gorse said: “In September we took on additional children and they have settled in well.

“We are really looking forward to the new build.”

Pupils will get two extra days holiday over Christmas so building work preparations can get underway.

The school is working closely with architects, the local authority and builders to minimise disruption to learning,

Thornleigh Salesian College in Sharples and St Joseph’s RC High School in Horwich which are also popular high performing schools have also taken on additional pupils.

Thornleigh has an extra 40 pupils this year and St Joseph’s nine.

The additional places are needed because of more people moving into the area — with housing developments in the borough likely to put pressure on school places, say council chiefs.

St James CE High School has put forward plans to open a free school for secondary school children to be built in central Bolton, where demand for places is said to be high.

Primary schools have previously undergone a modernisation and expansion programme to increase pupil places. Those children are now moving into secondary school.