ALMOST £5million will be spent on new buildings and facilities at Huish Episcopi School after it won permission to add a Sixth Form.

The Office of the Schools Adjudicator decision means students can study on the same site from the age of 11 to 19 from September 2010.

Graham Roff, head teacher at Huish Episcopi, which has been deemed an Outstanding School by Ofsted and High Performing Specialist School by the Government, welcomed the move.

He said: "Gaining this final permission has been a long process, but we're all very pleased with the outcome.

"This is great news for our community, for the area of Somerset which we serve.

"It will mean that students won't have to spend many hours each week in travelling to distant colleges - they will have a local alternative.

"We'll be offering a broad range of high quality courses based here in new facilities which will be built over the next 18 months."

A total of £4.8million will be pumped into the school to prepare for the changes, which will allow greater community use.

Somerset County Council portfolio holder for education Cllr Gloria Cawood said: "Officers will work with commitment and integrity to ensure that Huish Episcopi's sixth form is successful and dovetails, where possible, with other post 16 provision."

Langport county councillor Derek Yeomans said: "It is most sensible and pragmatic, both for the children at Huish Episcopi and the general expansion of education in the local area.

"It will reduce the need to travel and allow vulnerable students to continue their education in a familiar and supportive structure."