A COLLEGE praised as "outstanding" by inspectors is undergoing a £5.3million makeover to ensure its facilities match its academic excellence.

Officials from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) used the words outstanding and excellent more than 50 times to describe education provision at St Mary's RC College sixth-form, Blackburn.

Now it is embarking on a major building programme to boost work already done to improve its learning environment.

The college has submitted plans to Blackburn with Darwen Council for a 1,200 square metre science block, a 1,200 square metre performing arts centre, complete remodelling of the front of the college with a piazza-style frontage, and a new car park to include eight bus lay-bys.

Refurbishment will also be carried out to existing parts of the college interior and if all runs smoothly the work will be completed by September next year. Principal Kevin McMahon said the makeover plans had created an air of excitement among staff, parents and students.

"We want to build a science and performing arts block which matches what the pupils have got used to at schools granted specialist status in these subjects. It is what the pupils are used to and what they are entitled to in the 21st century.

"Everybody at the college is looking forward to the improvements and all the students are very excited. Hopefully the improvements will help us build on our excellent academic results. Ofsted has classed us as outstanding and these facilities will match that reputation and enhance it."

The college aims to fund the project through its own reserves, a Learning and Skills Council grant and a £2.7million bank loan.

The science block will include purpose-built labs, new computer facilities, interactive whiteboards and study areas, while the arts block will include dance and performing arts studios, music classroom, computer facilities and a designated performing space.

The college, in Shear Brow, also celebrated another successful year of results with students gaining an overall pass rate of 98.88 per cent and a 100 per cent pass rate was recorded in 32 subjects.

The college was founded in 1925 by an order of French missionary priests, the Marist Fathers. The original location was at 36 Shear Bank Road.