PLANS to build a new state-of-the-art sports hall at a school have been unveiled.

The scheme at Southchurch High School, formerly Futures College, in Southchurch Boulevard, Southend, will see four multi-use sports courts created.

The four sports courts will be the same size as badminton courts.

A planning statement lodged with Southend Council said: “The entire new indoor sports hall will be fully accessible and inclusive to all staff, pupils, parents and visitors including those with disabilities.”

It adds: “The proposed facility will allow a number of additional sports activities to be added to the sporting curriculum from the early years foundation stage through to Key Stage 4 and GCSE.

“The additional sporting activities will also benefit other schools against whom Southchurch High School play regular fixtures.”

James Courtenay, councillor for children and learning, said he hoped the addition of a new state-of-the-art sports hall will allow the school to continue to improve.

He said: “We are hopeful that the combination of a strong sponsor, the improving results and our joint project to facilitate their move into the larger, newer and brighter building that was previously occupied by PROCAT will allow the school to improve further.

“This is a two phase capital project to convert the buildings into the education spaces that the school needs and is part of our secondary school expansion programme.

“Phase one will ensure that the school has all the classrooms and technical teaching areas it needs by Easter 2018. Phase two will see the conversion of an open space area previously used for large scale brick construction works by PROCAT trainees into a four court sports hall for the school which is planned to be completed by September, 2018.

“The proposed facility will allow a number of additional sports activities to be added to the sporting curriculum from early years to GCSE school ages, and along with the phase one works will provide a modern and improved learning environment.”