A £282,000 funding boost means 'full steam ahead' on the redevelopment of St Cyres Comprehensive School – with work expected to be completed on the Penarth site by early 2012.

The additional money has been agreed by the Welsh Assembly and will enable the Vale of Glamorgan Council to move forward with the £30 million redevelopment plan.

In April 2009 the Vale Council approved an allocation of £468,000 from the school building improvement grant towards the cost of the works - but needed the balance to pay for a development study.

The latest injection of money will be used for a design brief including a cost plan, an application for planning permission and preparation of tender information.

Dr Jonathan Hicks, senior deputy headteacher at St Cyres, has already held a series of meetings with architects.

He said: "This extra funding means it's full steam ahead for the project.

"We will continue to meet with architects this month and hope to submit our final bid in May.

"If all goes to plan, we estimate work will start in January 2011, with a completion date of early 2012."

The funding comes as part of a £1million grant to help rebuild Llantwit Major Comprehensive.

Cllr Gordon Kemp, Leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, described the projects as ‘exciting’ but issued a word of caution about the plans.

"At this point the council has not formally committed itself to any formal proposal, but welcomes the Assembly Government funding which will be used to progress our school investment strategy,” he said.

"The Assembly Government is aware of the need to invest in Vale schools and the funding which has been provided will help us to complete feasibility work, which will include all the issues which need to be addressed in a major project of this kind.

“This will include building, site, planning and highways matters.

"Any developments will be a matter for formal consultations and will be dependent on the Assembly being prepared to prioritise its available capital budget to enable the council to meet pressing needs in St Cyres and Llantwit Major."