NORTH Tawton Primary School children and staff can look forward to some exciting changes this year, thanks to a grant of more than £600,000 which was last week approved by Devon County Council.

The money means the dilapidated Horsa hut kitchen and dining facilities at the school can be replaced and the construction of a new administration block; computer suite and enlarged school hall can take place, starting this summer.

Nick D?Agorne, the school?s new headteacher, said he was delighted with the good news.

?It?s going to give everyone much more of a feeling of welcome,? he said.

?We have a 1928 building here which was a secondary school and it does have the appearance of a secondary school ? you have to get beyond the doors to feel the warmth of the place.?

Mr D?Agorne said the school hall would eventually be two thirds bigger than the present room. Not only would this be better for the children, it should provide more of a community facility, he said.

?At the moment the hall is not sufficient for the number of children we have. We?ve got 147 now and although they can fit in, there?s not sufficient space to do anything else.

?If we have a function we have to use the town hall ? now we will be able to use our own building,? said Mr D?Agorne, who also wants to increase community use of the new hall.

?It?s being built with its own access, so people can use it without affecting the rest of the school.?

Mr D?Agorne said some of the ?dire? buildings like the Horsa hut, dating from before the second world war, would also be replaced, thanks to the grant.

He said the good news, which had come about thanks to a financial contribution from the school itself after two years saving, was a big bonus in his first term at North Tawton.

?I?m really enjoying it here ? there?s so much going on and I really enjoy the space we have here ? the grounds are huge,? he said.

Mr D?Agorne, who is 45 and lives in Teignmouth, was previously deputy head of Warberry Primary School in Torbay.