THE governors at Wisbech Grammar School have given the green light for a £1.25 million hall for the rapidly expanding junior and infant department. The new development will be built at the geographical centre of the junior school, which was re-named Magda

THE governors at Wisbech Grammar School have given the green light for a £1.25 million hall for the rapidly expanding junior and infant department.

The new development will be built at the geographical centre of the junior school, which was re-named Magdalene House last September in recognition of the school's close 400-year-old association with Magdalene College, Cambridge.

In addition to providing an assembly hall with seating for 200 children and the perfect venue for plays, musicals and exhibitions, the building will also contain two extra classrooms on the first floor and a servery on the ground floor which will enable the junior school to supply refreshments on public occasions.

Headmaster Mr Robert Repper welcomed the decision, saying that it was a clear recognition of the ongoing demand for places in the junior school and that it would help to secure the future of a very successful enterprise.

He said: "This is particularly appropriate because this announcement comes in the tenth year of operations of the junior school, with numbers standing at more than double the original 83 in September 1987.

"It is the school's way of recognising the faith that parents have shown in Magdalene House, the junior department."

In the junior school the staff are already referring to the new building as Magdalene Hall and headmistress Mrs Kate Cranwell said that the teachers were absolutely thrilled with the plans.

Work on the new hall will begin next summer, with completion by Easter 2008.