A GOLDEN era for education is about to begin in Didcot as updated plans for a new secondary school have revealed.

Aureus School, named after the hoard of gold coins unearthed in the town 20 years ago, could welcome schoolchildren through its doors as early as September next year.

New plans for the 1,200-space secondary school for 11 to 16-year-olds were submitted to Vale of White Horse District Council last week with updated designs for buildings, the car park and an extension of the playing fields.

Oxfordshire County Councillor for Didcot Nick Hards, welcomed the news.

He said: "I am really pleased this is moving forward.

"School places are what first got me involved in local politics that was back in the early 90s when they were not building school places on the Ladygrove estate.

"I know it means spending money before the school is full but I think it is important because at All Saint's primary there are four temporary classroom blocks and we do not want children to be educated in them.

"It is also bad for the environment because they are not as well insulated and waste a lot more money in the long run."

The Aureus school was initially granted outline planning permission in August 2015.

It is supposed to serve families on Didcot's 3,300-home Great Western Park, where nearly 1,000 homes have already been occupied.

Mr Hards added: "It is so important we have these facilities for the residents who are coming to the town.

"Great Western Park is growing and these school places need to be ready as soon as possible so youngsters can learn in the best environment possible and not temporary classrooms."

The Aureus school has been designed and will be run by the Surrey-based GLF Schools multi-academy trust, and it will be built by Oxfordshire County Council.

Construction work has already begun in Candytuft Way and the school is due to be completed in May 2017 in time to welcome pupils in September.

The new building will be three storeys and feature three wings to create a U-shape around a courtyard overlooking playing fields.

GLF will also run 420-place primary school, Chalkhill Primary School, on Great Western Park which is set to open in September 2018.

A new primary school, Didcot Primary Academy, opened on the estate this year and will educate 400 children when full.

A meeting will be held on Saturday, November 19, for residents who are interested becoming a governor for the Aureus secondary school.

It will be held at Didcot Civic Hall from 10am to 12pm.

For more information visit Vale of White Horse district council website and search using the planning number P16/V2682/CC