Work has begun on the rebuilding of two Chester schools.

A new £11.5m Blacon High School and £3.5m JH Godwin Primary School are being constructed in Blacon.

Both will be modern, purpose-built buildings to replace current outdated facilities in projects approved by the council in January.

The new three-storey Blacon High School, serving its 600 11-16 year old pupils, will replace the current setup across three separate buildings.

Along with state-of-the-art classrooms it will provide a dining area, library service and sports hall.

Blacon High School head teacher Sue Yates said: “We are thrilled about the new school which will allow us to secure an outstanding learning environment for the young people in this community.

“This shows the level of confidence there is in this school to continue to deliver high class teaching and learning.”

The secondary school will be turned from its current location on Melbourne Road to Auckland Road, easing congestion to neighbouring JH Godwin.

Currently in a two-storey building with limited top-floor accessibility, the new primary school will contain seven modern classrooms.

The design for the new JH Godwin Primary School building

Promising a comfortable and eco-friendly environment, it will also house the Stepping Stones nursery.

JH Godwin Primary School head teacher Nic Wetton said: “The school community is delighted and excited at the prospect of a brand new learning environment for all of its pupils, inspiring excellence and raising aspirations for the future.”

Phased demolitions will allow the schools to remain open and lessons to continue as normal whilst the new schools is built.

Both projects are being undertaken by construction company Morgan Sindall plc under the Priority School Building Programme.

JH Godwin Primary is scheduled to be open in April 2016 and Blacon High School is scheduled to be completed in August 2016.