From September 1, Mereway Community College, a specialist performing arts college, will be retitled Abbeyfield School to mark the mammoth changes to the building.

Abbeyfield is the latest site to be completed under a private finance initiative programme for the town's schools. Among the new facilities at Abbeyfield are a new sports hall and theatre, hospitality and catering unit, fitness room with gym equipment and dance studio.

Deputy head Claire Morrell said: "Over the past 10 years, the school has undergone a lot of improvements and we wanted to acknowledge that by doing something fairly radical, particularly as most of the old buildings have been replaced with new ones.

"We chose the name after looking at our catchment area. It comes from the original meaning of the word Delapre, which means of the meadow.

"There was a consultation with the staff and students and the shortlist was given to the governors to approve."

Mrs Morrell said there will also be changes to the school logo which will switch from navy, blue and gold coloured circular badge to a rectangular version bearing the new name in blue and black.

Abbeyfield will also be working in partnership with Goals Soccer Centres plc, a commercial company specialising in the provision of sports facilities on school sites.

Mrs Morrell said: "Although the main buildings are finished there will still be work carried out to the external site until December.

"Goals will be building 11 all weather football pitches and a pavilion and will manage it on our behalf. It's quite exciting for the school because they will be available to our pupils and to the wider community."