DESIGNS have been finalised for a secondary school to replace a cramped and oversubscribed building from the 1960s.

If everything goes to plan, children from St Francis Xavier School, in Richmond, could transfer from the old premises to the new ones in September, 2005.

Formal plans are now ready for submission for approval and the architects have come up with a two-storey building in stone, slate, larch timber and rendering with a pitched slate roof.

The intention is to build the main buildings behind the existing premises, which would then be demolished to make way for a sports hall, dance and drama studio and other units.

The whole scheme should be complete by the autumn of 2006.

Dr Joe McAuley, the headteacher, said: "It will have all the classroom space we need, with each department based in its own suite."

The new school was given official backing earlier this year when education ministers confirmed they would pay for 80 per cent of the costs.

Although final costings are still being prepared, the eventual price is expected to be in the region of £8m.

St Francis Xavier is one of the few joint Roman Catholic and Church of England schools in the country and was originally built to accommodate 200 pupils.

However, its roll now stands at almost 400 and there are 27 staff, making the premises cramped.

The new building will cater for up to 450 pupils.

Dr McAuley said the school would also be for use by the community, with a large sports hall, catering facilities, and IT suite and conference area.

In addition, there will be a library and resource centre, meetings rooms and a hall for drama and other events.

Dr McAuley said: "The new building will be no higher than the existing one as we are conscious of what our neighbours will look out on.

"We have very good neighbours and I am confident they will share our enthusiasm for the development of the school."