WORK is about to start on the first new secondary school in Salford for 25 years.

The construction of Albion High School, designed for 1,000 pupils and 100 staff, will begin next month.

The new school, at the junction of Cromwell Road and London Street in Charlestown on the site of the former Salford Education Centre, will replace Kersal and Lowry High Schools.

The Albion will be a community high school, and will be used by local residents after school hours as well as at weekends and during holidays.

The library, dining area, assembly hall, drama studio and sports hall will all be available for community use.

Coun Keith Mann, lead member for education at Salford City Council, said: ''The Albion is seen as a symbol of the regeneration of the Charlestown area and this is reflected in the quality of the design and the facilities.

''There will be extra classroom space for computers and larger areas for teaching.''

The new school plan followed a decision that the Lowry and Kersal high schools were too costly to repair and too small to cater for 1,000 pupils.

Architects and engineers from Design Plus, Salford City Council's design consultancy, worked with the headteacher and staff of Albion High School and education advisors.

Work is expected to be completed by May next year. The Albion will be open for the start of the new educational year in September 2003.

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