As work started on a new building at Yeoman Park Academy, Mansfield Woodhouse, principal Courtney Hoop hailed it as significant milestone in the school’s history.

“I know it will have a life-changing impact on our community for many years to come,” she said.

“Our whole staff team work extremely hard to deliver an inspiring and aspirational curriculum for our children and young people, who range from age 3 to 18.

“We’re all incredibly excited at the prospect of being able to widen this to more families in the future, within start-of-the-art facilities that will make such a difference to the experience of all our pupils.”

Pupils and staff joined representatives from the Department for Education and Nottinghamshire County Council, alongside developers BAM, to mark the official breaking of the ground at the site.

Yeoman Park was identified as was one of the first 50 to be selected for upgrading as part of the government’s 10-year, multi-wave rebuilding programme for schools.

The new purpose-built school will be located on land close to the current academy building.

David Cotton, chief executive officer for Diverse Academies Trust, of which the academy is a member, added: “This development reflects a significant investment in our region to support the needs of many families who require access to highly-specialist educational facilities for their children.

“The new academy building will fully cater for up to 138 pupils and, in addition to high-quality teaching spaces, facilities will include a hydrotherapy pool, hall, multi-use games area, and sensory gardens ­— with the potential for wider community use in the future.”