The biggest investment in public buildings in the history of Dartmouth kicks off next week with a VIP 'turf turning' ceremony for the launch of the town's £8.5 million new academy project.

The Leadbitters contractors have been on the school site for the last three weeks setting up equipment and ensuring the development site is safe for the hundreds of pupils who still continue to using the academy complex to receive their education.

But the much-anticipated, literal ground-breaking operation to launch the massive school development will take place on Wednesday next week.

The VIP ceremony will involve various invited notable guests plus an exhibition spelling out the detail of the project which will re-shape education in Dartmouth forever.

When it is finished, the new academy buildings will feature the best educational technology.

It will also have an extensive renewable energy-generating systems, which will sometimes even generate more energy than the school needs.

Additionally there will be a multi-functional school and commercial restaurant designed with the help of Dartmouth local celebrity chef Mitch Tonks.

It is hoped that the main building will be ready for occupation and teaching in March 2014 and the whole project is hopefully due to be completed on the projected date of June 30, 2014.

The all through academy which teaches subjects to youngsters from five to 18 years now boasts an impressive 528 pupils.

That is up by 50 youngsters on the 2010 roll and the numbers are expected to rise even higher by the beginning of the next school year.

Next week's ceremony is the culmination of more than two years of planning to produce a project that will virtually rebuild the school and provide long-awaited 21st Century educational facilities for Dartmouth.