BUILDING work should start next month on seven new schools in north Swindon.

A primary school, two replacement special schools and a secondary school on a campus site in Priory Vale, a new primary school at Haydon End, and a replacement school for Hreod Parkway and the combined Moredon infants and juniors, will begin to take shape.

With the exception of Priory Vale secondary schools, which will open later, work is due to finish in September 2006.

A consortium led by Equion, a division of John Laing plc, has the £97m contract to build and operate the schools for 25 years. After this the schools will be council owned.