Work starts on new Catholic school

The new Roman Catholic school, called Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in York, will accommodate 420 primary school children and 52 nursery children and replace Our Lady's in Acomb and English Martyrs in Hamilton Drive, two schools built more than 50years ago and now considered unsuitable for modern-day needs.

Some fixtures from the present schools will be incorporated in the new build, which is

planned to be finished by January 2012.

The Bishop of Middlesbrough, Terence Patrick Drainey, who will cut the first turf, said: "The children, parents and staff who have waited, worked, and hoped for a new school for many years are delighted, as I am also, that at long last we are in sight of the fulfilment of our hopes.

"This is an exciting opportunity for two very highly respected schools in the local community to come together into one brand new state of the art school which is great news for catholic education in York."