West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin this week ushered in a new era for Pershore High School by starting the demolition of classrooms dating back to the 1970s. The demolition work will make room for the construction of a new art block and additional classrooms allowing classes to move out of temporary buildings which have been in place for more than a decade. The £3.4 million project is expected to take two years to complete and funding was securing after Harriett lobbied Education Minister David Laws to support the school’s bid. Harriett said: “I was very pleased to be asked to start the demolition work and celebrate this wonderful new era for Pershore High School. “The old classrooms were well past their sell-by date and the new building work will give the school both much needed new classrooms but also scope to expand. “Most importantly it means that for the first time in many years, the temporary classrooms can be retired and classes can be held in proper, fit-for-purpose facilities. “With a new housing development planned across from the school and several other house-building projects underway in the school’s catchment area, it is good to see the school planning for the future. “I was pleased to play some small part in the delivering of funding and I look forward to watching the project take shape over through next year.” Head teacher, Clive Corbett commented: “This award offers a wonderful opportunity to further improve the school’s facilities, notably in the areas of Art and Design, Humanities and Modern Languages. "The new buildings will allow students to learn in even more exciting and interesting ways. I must pay particular tribute to Russell Dalton, our Finance and Business Director, for putting so much hard work into writing the successful bid. "I am also hugely grateful to Harriett Baldwin MP for her unstinting support for our project.”