A SPECIAL celebration today marks the successful completion of more than £8 million of PFI works in primary and secondary schools in the Pool area.

The "Pool cluster" project forms part of Cornwall's wider PFI scheme with partners NewSchools Ltd, which comprises more than £35 million of construction works to 32 primary and secondary schools with a contract value of around £75 million.

An opening address by Dean Ashton, deputy director of education, arts and libraries, will be followed by a tour of Pool School.

Completed work includes: a new hall and kitchen; a music suite with two classrooms, eight practice rooms and a recording studio; two state-of-the-art drama studios; a dance studio; a block of maths classrooms; and three art studios.

The existing kitchen and hall area have been refurbished to form two new computer suites and a library.

Other major refurbishments include new science labs, a design and technology room and a multi media suite. The staff room and administration areas have also been refurbished

The celebration will then move to Pencoys Primary School, where guests will enjoy a tour of the new £1.4 million campus.

The new 160-pupil school, which is sited in Four Lanes and formed from the merger of Nine Maidens and Carnkie schools, opened in September 2003.

It includes eight new classrooms, a library area, a special educational needs room, a staff room and offices for the headteacher and secretary

Guests will then arrive at Treloweth Community Primary School, where they will again tour facilities.

The £1.4 million extension at includes six extra classrooms, a family room, a new computer room and library and refurbishment of the original classrooms.

The project also comprises two inner courtyards, an extended car park, new pathways and extensive landscaping of the playground area.