Major renovations are under way at a special school as a £2m "transformation" gathers pace.
The classrooms, corridors and outdoor learning areas of the Warren School in Lowestoft are being renovated as part of a "major project" to transform facilities.
It comes after the school on Clarkes Lane, Oulton Broad became part of Halesworth-based Consortium Trust on September 1 this year - with the trust's chief executive officer Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne having been supporting school staff and the previous trust since last October.
On a special tour of the school on Clarkes Lane, Oulton Broad, to view the renovations after its transfer to the Consortium Multi-Academy Trust, Waveney MP Peter Aldous said that the transformation was "eye opening."
Mr Aalders-Dunthorne, the interim executive lead at the school, said: "When I came here to support the previous chief executive I fell in love with the place."
Warren School was rated inadequate by Ofsted in September 2022, and placed in special measures.
During a special measures monitoring inspection the school in March, which was published in May, inspectors said: "Warren School remains inadequate and requires special measures" adding "Leaders have made progress to improve the school."
Earlier this year, after the trust secured £250,000 of investment from Suffolk County Council to improve the facilities, there was further good news after a significant grant was received from the Department for Education.
After securing a total of £2m worth of investment, Mr Aalders-Dunthorne said: "The school has been in special measures for a long time.
"What we are doing is bringing in raised standards for the children.
"Working with the local authority, stakeholders, the DfE and more to invest in this school we were able to secure £2m of investment in grants for a programme of renovations throughout the school.
"This has allowed us to press ahead with a major renovation project that will transform the school."
It has seen classrooms having undergone "total makeovers" - as damaged walls and ripped carpets have been replaced with new soft sensory spaces, new IT boards, new flooring and more as a "bright new learning environment" is showcased.
Celebrating the children, new picture and photo boards of the young people have been installed, with the early years room for the youngest children fully renovated.
Mr Aalders-Dunthorne said: "We will be spending £50,000 over the next few weeks to transform the early years outdoor learning area.
"It is in a sorry state at the moment, but in three weeks it will be phenomenal."
A new new gym area - in what used to be a corridor - has now been unveiled, along with a new library.
With children aged from three to 19 at the school, the Consortium Trust's management team is pressing ahead "with a huge project of improvement" that will hopefully include the renovation and reopening of the swimming pool.
Mr Aalders-Dunthorne said: "We have a really big pool that has been closed since before Covid, which has fallen into disrepair.
"The pool itself is OK, it is the plant room and changing areas that need to be renovated.
"We are hopeful the Department for Education will grant money for this next big phase of works with the aim of opening next year.
"This is something at the top of our list - making sure this is back in use."
Mr Aldous said: "It's been eye opening to see the transformation which Warren School is undergoing.
"The Consortium Trust has been running here since last October and the transformation in this short term has been absolutely staggering.
"Creating a very, very special environment which translates into happy and smiling faces is so very important."
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