EVERY pupil at a school set to get an £8.7million makeover will be given touch-screen computer tablets to use in lessons.

Building work on a two-storey teaching block and a single-storey fitness suite at De La Salle School, in Ghyllgrove, Basildon, will start in April.

The entire school, including the new buildings, will benefit from state-of-the-art computer equipment.

All 750 pupils will be given touch screen computer tablets to use in lessons, which will be like iPads, but not necessarily made by Apple, as contracts have not been signed with any manufacturers.

These could be used to upload essays, type in notes from lessons, or browse the internet.

Headteacher Dr Mike Curnock said: “It’s all part of our drive to bring more technology into education. We’ve piloted a class using the tablets already, and it seems to work really well. Every pupil will eventually have access to them during lessons. Teachers will also have tablets linked to computerised projection screens, which will really improve teaching visual aids.”

Essex County Council, which is responsible for managing schools, has lodged a planning application for the £8.7million extension and modernisation scheme with Basildon Council.

De La Salle’s regeneration project was among just 12 in Essex to survive, when the Government axed the Building Schools for the Future programme in 2011.

It is hoped the new facilities will help drive up exam results, after only 34.45 per cent of De La Salle pupils achieved five or more A to C grades, including passes at English and maths, at GCSE last year.

This was below the 35 per cent Government target.

Dr Curnock added: “What caused the problem was an unexpected dip in the English results, but I am happy with the overall academic performance.

“Overall, 72 per cent of pupils achieved five or more A to C grades last year, but not necessarily with English and maths.

“The new technology will all help improve academic performance.”