A NORTH Yorkshire school is to benefit from a £1m refurbishment, which is set to transform the facilities for students.

Harrogate Grammar School has been given £700,000 for the development of a new school hall, and will provide a further £300,000 itself.

The current hall will become the school library, complete with a glass extension to house a state-of-the-art information technology suite.

The existing library will be transformed into a drama studio and performing arts area which can also be used for lectures.

This will allow the drama department to move out of the school's music block allowing for greater expansion. Three new IT classrooms will also be provided as part of the scheme.

Head teacher, Phil Limbert, said: "I arrived here two years ago and it was clear then that the school buildings needed improving.

"The whole scheme revolved around having a new hall, which would then have a domino effect around the school.

"We needed something which would help the whole flow of the school and we are delighted the education service has agreed to support us in this."

School governor and executive member for education at North Yorkshire County Council, Jim Clark, said: "This is a tremendous scheme, which in one fell swoop would help us sort out the many logistical difficulties the school has had to put up with."

Updated: 08:33 Wednesday, March 17, 2004