Spades hit the ground last week as construction began for a new school on Clearwater Drive in Quedgeley.

The controversial project will provide a new-build complex for Clearwater Academy, which is currently temporarily based adjacent to Sanctus Environmental at Olympus Business Park just down the road.

Although the school is currently only home to 67 pupils, the new site which is being built by Kier Construction will allow for a 420-student capacity.

The Diocese of Gloucester Academies Trust initially applied for planning permission for the school in June 2017, which was met by backlash from councillors and local residents.

The proposal was unanimously rejected by planners in December of that year, but in 2019 this rejection was overturned after an appeal by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (part of Department of Education) and submission of revised plans.

On Friday 24 January, six children represented the school at a ground breaking ceremony on the site alongside Bishop Robert, representatives from the ESFA, Kier Construction, headteacher Mrs Moss and chair of governors Jo Grills.

A spokesperson for the school said: "We were all very excited that building works began on our permanent site last week. The children loved having the opportunity to sit in the digger and were also interviewed by BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"Kier were wonderful with the children and explained where everything will be once it's all built. In approximately six weeks' time we will have a programme of children visiting at key points.

"Our intention is that every child will have the opportunity for a site visit before completion."

Building work is expected to be complete by the end of 2020.