A WEST DEVON headteacher says plans to secure a new village school and much-needed extra community facilities within the next couple of years are ?moving on amazingly?.

David Jones, head of Halwill Primary School, said he was now hopeful pupils could soon be on the move from their base in a Victorian school house in constant need of upgrading, to a modern purpose-built school.

Mr Jones said the move would transform education for primary school children in the area, and there were also hopes to include a new home for the playgroup and pre-school at the new site.

A special meeting of parents, governors, education authority representatives, possible funders and the pre-school which currently meets in the village hall was held last week to discuss the idea. Mr Jones said he had received positive feedback from a number of parents and the pre-school about the idea.

He said: ?It is looking very positive. It is an exciting thing for Halwill.?

Mr Jones said a committee was about to be set up, comprising different members of the community to act as a fundraising body to help raise money to include pre-school facilities in any new school build.

?These new facilities would have a big impact on educational standards for children so now the challenge is to try to secure the vital funding,? he added.

Parents will also be fully consulted on the detailed plans when they are drawn up.

Mr Jones said there would be a lot of hard work required to secure the funding for the project. But he was confident the ?positive ethos amongst everyone at Halwill would ensure there was the energy to carry this project through?.

Mr Jones said a preferred site nearby had been identified, but could not be revealed at this stage.

He said that as well as benefitting the children, the project would bring benefits to the whole community.

The limitations of the current school building have been flagged up in the school?s last three Ofsted reports, and staff at the school want to move to a new building which will meet the needs of 21st century education.

l An under-11s disco is being held this month to raise funds for the pre-school. The disco takes place in the village hall on Thursday, December 18, from 6.30pm onwards.