A turf-cutting ceremony marked the beginning of work on a major school expansion in Hounslow .

A new five-storey building will enable Kingsley Academy , in Hounslow town centre, to nearly double in size from just over 800 to 1,400 pupils.

The school is also getting a new sports centre, which will be available for use by the public when not needed by students, and newly landscaped grounds.

Teachers and students gathered on Friday (April 29) as the first patch of turf was cut in a traditional ceremony to mark the formal commencement of work.

How Kingsley Academy's new school building will look

Principal Lesley Kirby said: "The project and the resulting buildings and facilities will provide the young people of Hounslow and surrounding areas with exceptional learning opportunities and experiences that will enhance and consolidate the great teaching they already receive at Kingsley Academy."

Students have been promised work experience, lectures and site visits during the work to give them an insight into the engineering, finance and design sectors.

The new buildings, approved by Hounslow Council in December last year , will help meet the growing demand for secondary school places in the borough. Construction work is scheduled to take two years.

Kingsley Academy changed its name in 2013 from Hounslow Manor School after converting to academy status, meaning it is no longer subject to local authority control.

Kingsley Academy principal Lesley Kirby (holding the spade) with fellow staff, construction chiefs and representatives from the Department for Education

The secondary school, which was the fourth of Boris Johnson's London Mayoral Academies to open, was last year rated 'requires improvement' by the education watchdog Ofsted , following its first inspection since the conversion.

But Ms Kirby said she was confident she could transform its fortunes after taking over at the beginning of this year.

More than 23,000 extra secondary school places are expected to be required across west London by 2024/5 , including in excess of 4,000 in Hounslow.