The development will extend the school hall by five metres, allowing a new school library to be opened on the first floor.

A new toilet block will also be built.

Headteacher Lynn Tee said she was delighted by the announcement and explained the reasons for the new building work.

“The school hall is no longer adequate at dinner time and is too small to host events and school productions, while the library will be a wonderful new facility which all our children will enjoy,” she said.

The school’s chairman of governors, Steve Ellis, said that retaining the appearance of the building, including the “unique” facade at the rear of the hall, had increased the cost of the development.

“We are particularly pleased that the council has provided the extra finance to enable us to retain the character of the building,” he said.

North Yorkshire County Council is giving the school £117,000 for the building work, which will commence next summer.

In 2005, county council funding allowed the school to integrate the adjacent school house into the main school building.