The new facility in Henbury is part of a multi-million pound construction programme which will transform 11 of Bristol's 18 secondary schools.

It will feature a sports hall and all-weather pitch for use by the school and community, together with a swimming pool, fitness suite and dance studio.

The school is due to open at the end of August 2005 and is the first of four schools which will be entirely rebuilt.

Work on Portway, Bedminster Down and Monks Park will begin this summer and Portway is due to open in January 2006, and the other two in Easter 2006.

Councillor Peter Abraham said: "I believe this will have a major impact on these school communities, improving retention of pupils and staff and increasing motivation by providing environments everyone can feel proud of and where learning can flourish."

This week, a financial agreement was made between Bristol City Council and Bristol Schools Ltd, the company set up by HBG Construction Ltd to oversee the construction and management of the four new schools.

The contract for the building and management of the schools will run for 26 years after which the schools will become the property of the Local Education Authority