ONE OF Hampshire’s biggest secondary schools is to receive a major overhaul for the first time in its 40-year history.

The main building at The Arnewood School in Gore Road, New Milton, will be given a £2.5 million facelift funded by a government grant.

The 1970s complex will be stripped bare apart from its main structural walls and equipped with a modern facade, plus plus new ceilings and windows.

Work is due to get under way next February, with students moving into their new classrooms the following year.

Arnewood head teacher Nigel Pressnell said: “This is fantastic news for everyone at the school as our ageing building will receive a much-needed update.

“The modernisation means the building will be a lot more environmentally friendly and cost efficient. Its exterior will also be far more attractive.”

Mr Presnell added: “We’ve always been proud that our school is one of the first things you see when you drive into New Milton and soon we’ll be an even more attractive gateway.”

Temporary classrooms are due to arrive on site next month, enabling staff and students to start moving out of the current complex.

The school, which has more than 1,000 pupils and opened in the 1970s, says the improvements will make the building warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Cllr Alan O’Sullivan, former mayor of New Milton and chief executive of the Gryphon Trust, which supports Arnewood, said: “This is excellent news not only for the current staff and students but also future generations who come to work and study here.“We are all very excited for this new gateway building to be completed and provide first class 21st century provision for our community.”

The school was given an overall rating of outstanding after its latest Ofsted inspection in 2013.

Inspectors said students made excellent progress and achieved GSCE results that were well above the national average.

The report added: “Arnewood is larger than the average-sized secondary school, with a large sixth-firm.

“It is the only secondary school serving New Milton and the surrounding villages.”