CHILDREN in Melksham look set to get a £20m new school while Trowbridge is in line for a big disappointment.

The George Ward School has been recommended to receive a government grant that would see it demolished and rebuilt, a grant The John of Gaunt School in Trowbridge had also bid for. Christine Deadman, chairman of the governors at George Ward said: "This is the most fantastic opportunity not just for the school but for the whole community.

"A new school would be a huge boost to Melksham and a sign to the community that it is valued. "We will have a school fit to deliver the 21st century curriculum our pupils need and deserve."

Wiltshire County Council officers are recommending the school, currently in the Shurnfold area of Melksham, be chosen for the government-funded Pathfinder project ahead of the Trowbridge secondary school, which is one of three in the town.

The cash will go towards the building of a new state- of-the-art school in Woolmore Farm in the Bowerhill area of Melksham. Nick Glass, acting headteacher at George Ward said: "I am delighted and impressed by the way the community of Melksham have stepped up to embrace the possibility of a new school. If we get this it will be thoroughly deserved and a reflection of the dedication of Dr Pam Stoate (headteacher) and the school staff over the years."

The rundown school was built in the 1950s and governors believe it would be better to knock it down and start again. In Trowbridge, all three secondary schools are in the same side of town and there have long been calls for either a fourth school to be built or for one to be moved.

John of Gaunt is partly housed in a Victorian building and headteacher Andy Packer said money that could be spent on new equipment often has to go on repairs. He said: "Obviously we are disappointed that we won't be getting the grant, but we are delighted that £20m is being invested in a school in Wiltshire. The children will certainly benefit from this."

Council officers have concluded rebuilding the John of Gaunt School is not achievable within the budget available, and that relocating it to the east of Trowbridge is not possible in the timescale.

Bob Wolfson, director of children and education at the county council said: "We have done a great deal of work in a short time to identify a suitable candidate school so that we can take advantage of the grant.

The cabinet will take the final decision on March 17.