An image has been released of plans for the £11.6million project to expand a school with “state of the art facilities”.

Redbridge council’s planning team approved the plans last month for Woodbridge High School, in St Barnabas Road, Woodford Green.

Plans include a new arts block, a new fitness block with changing rooms, gym and dance studio, resurfaced sports courts, redeveloped canteen and new school entrance and car parks.

The main building work will start over the summer holidays this year and it is planned to be completely finished by September next year.

This will mean an extra 300 pupils will be accommodated by the school.

It started taking on an extra 60 Year 7 children at the start of this school year, and the school will continue to stagger the intake until each year has 60 extra pupils.

People living near the school have spoken out about the new arts block "overlooking" their properties and "invade privacy".

But assistant headteacher of Woodbridge High, Jeremy Clifton, said the expansion was needed for the school.

He said: “It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to build new facilities.

“It will mean state of the art facilities for the use of pupils and the community, providing opportunities for children in arts and drama.

“There is a borough-wide issue for pupil places and we are meeting that and improving the quality of facilities at the same time.”