The Thomas Deacon Academy will be built in Queens Gardens, replacing the John Mansfield School, Deacon's School and Hereward Community College.

The academy will cater for 2,200 students divided into six colleges and will specialise in maths and science.

It is hoped the new school - being built by Laing O'Rourke - will open in September 2007.

Art students from the three schools that are merging into the academy are now working on designs to go on the hoarding around the construction site.

Most of the money for the new building will come from the government, with contributions from the city council, The Deacon's Trust and Perkins Engines - the sponsors of the academy.

The new school has developed out of the government's city academy programme that aims to revitalise secondary schooling in areas where local schools could benefit from re-organisation.