Helston Community College is giving people the first chance to see what the new-look school should look like.

In February it was finally confirmed that construction work on the North Site of the school on Church Hill should begin this September.

Between 80 and 90 per cent of the college’s upper school site will be redeveloped, taking in C-Block (maths and English), D-Block (science and PE) and E-Block (technology).

Now the college is hosting a drop-in session for everyone in Helston to view the proposals, in the North Site canteen - which can be found off the car park - tomorrow afternoon. 

Plans will be on show between 3pm and 7pm, and people can drop in at any point between those times.

Visitors should note that the main school car park is closed from 3pm until 3.30pm to allow children to access the bus bay. Anyone wanting to visit during that half-hour is asked to park on the road or in South Site car park.

It was back in February 2015 that then Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg visited the school to reveal it would receive millions of pounds to update what he described as “passed their sell-by date” buildings.

Although no figure was given for the specific amount Helston would receive, in order to not affect the tendering process, the town’s then MP Andrew George said it would be in the “tens” of millions, coming from the second phase of the Priority School Building Programme - worth £2 billion nationally.

Since then work has been going on behind the scenes, planning and costing the project and beginning the tendering process.

The college was originally due to receive money under a similar government programme, Building Schools for the Future, which was subsequently cancelled.

Then, in 2014, Cornwall Council revealed it was unable to find the £10 million it had agreed in principle, to help the college rebuild C-Block – a building where in the past windows have had to be screwed in over safety fears and there is asbestos in the walls.

This grant will only cover renovations to the north site renovations, with the government deeming the south site building - although older - still fit for purpose.