MORE than £500,000 is set to be spent expanding a village school, a public meeting has heard.

Work will begin later this month on two brick classrooms at St Michael’s Primary School in London Road, Woolmer Green. It is expected to be completed in time for the new school year in September.

Headteacher Brendan Mallon, speaking at the Woolmer Green People’s Forum last week, said: “The future is bright in Woolmer Green.

“It is exciting to have more children to teach at the school.”

Currently there are 166 pupils at the school, but in September there will be 190 – and Mr Mallon said the school would be full at 210 students.

Herts County Council says it is expecting an increase in children from Codicote, Knebworth and Welwyn applying for the school in the next two years.

A spokeswoman said: “Phase 2 of the county council’s Primary Expansion Programme is set to conclude later this year, providing permanent reception places for September 2013.

“As part of this programme, St Michael’s Woolmer Green C of E VA Primary School was permanently expanded by 10 additional places, to enable it to take one form of entry from 2013 onwards.”