Silverwood School in Rowde is set for a refurbishment after being selected for government funding.

The co-educational special school, which has campuses in Rowde, Chippenham and Trowbridge, is one of 239 schools chosen by the Department for Education for the School Rebuilding Programme.

The programme was set up to identify and either replace or refurbish school buildings across England to create “modern educational environments.”

The refurbishment will take place alongside the £38 million campus extension, which will provide provision for 350 pupils by Autumn 2023.

Cllr Laura Mayes, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for education, said: “This is excellent and very welcome news. It will allow us to fulfil our commitment to ensuring that all young people in Wiltshire get the best start in life.

“Earlier this year we submitted a bid for the complete refurbishment of the Grade II listed school building on the Silverwood Rowde site. The building needs complete refurbishment, over all three floors both structurally and internally.

“The schools announced as part of the programme will be reviewed and prioritised according to condition need and other relevant criteria. The Department for Education will start working with the highest priority schools between April 2023 and January 2024, with a view to completing those projects soon after.”

The refurbished building will provide classrooms, offices and an enterprise zone.