OVERBUDGET and behind schedule works to expand a Hamworthy school are to be propped up with hundreds of thousands more pounds.

The project to increase the capacity at Carter Community School had due to be finished last summer but now needs more funding from BCP Council.

United Learning Trust, which runs the school, said it was “no secret” it had been “disappointed” by the work of contractors but that it was “grateful for the consistent support” of the council.

Work started in August 2018 and had been due to be completed the following year.

However, several issues were discovered during the early stages of the project – prompting its delay into 2020 and a change of contractor.

“It is no secret that we have been very disappointed by the performance of the building industry on this project,” a trust spokesman said. “However, we are now working well with the new contractor to complete the project.

“There have been cost increases. In fairness to everyone concerned, a good part of this has been driven by unforeseeable issues like asbestos underground, which has had to be dealt with safely.

“The higher costs have been met by BCP Council and United Learning between us.

“We have been grateful for the consistent support of BCP Council in getting the right result for children in Poole and Hamworthy and we are confident that the finished building will be a wonderfully improved space for generations of children to learn in.”

The trust has agreed to spend £379,000 finishing the refurbishment of science teaching rooms and toilets which were left uncompleted during the switch.

And on Wednesday the council’s cabinet will be asked to increase its contribution to the project by £770,000 taking its total to almost £7.3 million.

Councillor Sandra Moore, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “We have been working hard with United Learning Trust to look at ways that we could access the additional funding needed to continue and get this much needed school expansion complete.

“The council must provide more school places for local children and it is important that a financial solution is agreed so that this project can be finished as soon as possible enabling new school facilities to be delivered.”

Just under £4 million has been spent so far on the project.