Becket Key CofE School in Brentwood will be getting a new £2 million sports hall.

Work has begun on the new development, which is being overseen by property and construction consultancy Ingleton Wood, and is expected to be completed in April 2018.

The existing sports hall will remain in use until the new facility is completed, after which it will be demolished.

Following talks with Brentwood Borough Council, it is also hoped that the local community, sports clubs and other organisations will hire the facility outside of school hours.

Andy Scott-Evans, Headteacher at Becket Keys, commented: “We are passionate about sport at Becket Keys and we are always looking to improve our offer to our students, both now and in the future.

“We already play an active role in various local sports partnerships, most notably the Sawyers Sports Trust and have established a reputation for high quality sports provision. This sports hall will only enhance our ability to offer excellent sporting facilities for our students and the local community.”

Part of the Russell Education Trust, Becket Keys was established in 2012 and is expected to have 1,050 students enrolled by September 2018.

The school was rated as ‘Outstanding’ in its first full Ofsted inspection in May 2014.

Sam Taylor, Associate at Ingleton Wood, said: “We are delighted to be leading on a project which will provide a modern, high-class sports hall for the school.

“We were especially pleased to have secured such a significant amount of money through the Condition Improvement Fund - money set aside by the government specifically for academies and sixth form colleges. It will help to deliver a fantastic sporting facility for the students of Becket Keys and the local community.”