Story by: ELAINE KING EXCITING plans to redevelop the Thomas Clarkson Community College in Wisbech will transform learning at the school, says head teacher Maureen Strudwick. It will be absolutely fantastic, said Mrs Strudwick this week, following an op

Story by: ELAINE KING

EXCITING plans to redevelop the Thomas Clarkson Community College in Wisbech will transform learning at the school, says head teacher Maureen Strudwick.

"It will be absolutely fantastic," said Mrs Strudwick this week, following an opening evening that attracted more than 200 people to view two possible schemes.

"We are grateful that the bidders have worked so hard with us. This is not just about a new building; it is about developing the process of learning. We are on a very exciting journey."

Parents, residents and councillors viewed plans by two consortia bidding to get the job of replacing the school buildings under the Building Schools for the Future scheme.

Earlier in the day, pupils had the chance to look at the schemes, and record their comments.

"We have received some good constructive comments from pupils and visitors," said Alan Kippax, Project Director for Building Schools for the Future in Cambridgeshire.

"We will work through them, and take them into account through the remaining process," he said.

Consortia Equitix Learning Partnerships and Inspiredspaces are bidding to become the county council's partner for BSF across Cambridgeshire.

A preferred bidder is due to be chosen before the end of the year, and work is due to start on site in the late spring of next year.

The scheme at the Thomas Clarkson Community College will run alongside a scheme at the Neale-Wade Community College in March. The two schools are due to have �55m spent on them, as the first schools in the county to benefit from BSF, which will see all secondary schools in England rebuilt or refurbished.