Work to improve disabled access and create new teaching facilities at Grey Court School is under way.

The Ham-based school's £1m expansion project will see a new lift installed to provide disabled access to all floors and a classroom extension to the Grade II listed Newman House on the school's campus built over the coming months.

Headteacher Maggie Bailey said when work finally started on Wednesday both teachers and students alike were delighted.

She said: “It was heartening to see the enthusiasm of the students when we announced that work was starting.

"These are important improvements and they will allow us to offer an even better learning experience.”

Carried out by construction company Morgan Sindall, the improvement works are part of Richmond Council's bid to enhance the provision of additional educational needs (AEN) and special educational needs (SEN) facilities in the borough.

Set to be completed by June, the work will also include extensions to Grey Court's existing learning resource centre as well as the design and technology blocks.

Nick Whitfield, Richmond's director of education, children’s and cultural services, said he was delighted to announce the improvements set to take place at Grey Court and looked forward to unveiling the new facilities in future.

Other schools which will also be undergoing work to improve disabled access are Christ’s School, Orleans Park School and Waldegrave School for Girls.