MORE than £2m is to be spent carrying out improvements at a Derby junior school – just months after the buildings were criticised by Government inspectors.

Ravensdale Junior School is to have two extra classrooms, a community room and a library under the scheme.

The staff and administration areas will also be remodelled and general security at the school will be improved.

Head teacher Paula Martin is delighted with the £2.1m plans, which still have to be tweaked slightly, but are due to go on show to parents and the local community soon.

The Mickleover school was placed in special measures by Osted in October 2008 while it improved its standard of education.

It has been regularly visited by Ofsted inspectors which will continue until it has improved enough to be removed from special measures.

During one of the visits last July, an inspector said ongoing problems with the building could hinder the school's "good" progress.

Lead inspector Judith Matharu said the school needs to "resolve the issues associated with accommodation, so that this does not hinder improvement".

Mrs Martin shared her concerns – and was aware plans had been previously drawn up to improve the school.

But the inspectors' remarks gave her a chance to press the city council for a faster response to the problems.

Mrs Martin said: "I knew that money had been put aside to make building improvements, but was unsure when that might be and time was crucial to us.

"But now everyone is so excited about the developments, although we don't have a definite start date yet."

Derby City Council officers spoke with the inspectors last summer and the plans began to take shape.

Money for the improvements will come from the city council's primary capital programme – a 15-year Government project to improve primary schools across the country.

As the school's new classrooms are intended to accommodate children from the newly-built homes on the former university campus in Chevin Avenue, some money will come from the developers.

Builders Radleigh Homes, Peveril Homes and Persimmon are giving £678,908 to the council towards the improvements at the school.