IT was third time lucky for a York school celebrating a "phenomenal" £800,000 cash windfall.

Staff and pupils at New Earswick Primary School were jumping for joy today after their application for Government funding got the green light.

Jubilant head teacher Carole Farrar said the bumper cash injection was the biggest event in the school's near-100 year history.

She said: "This is fantastic news. It's phenomenal - the biggest thing to have ever happened to this school".

"We've been trying for the money since I came here in 2001 - so it's third time lucky."

Although a plush new IT suite was recently built, the head said most of the school has remained untouched since being built in 1912.

The funding - part of a Government scheme to transform the village site into a Community Learning Centre - means the whole interior of the school will be remodelled, with classrooms made bigger and separate dining and sporting facilities introduced.

Meanwhile, the planned merger of two York secondary schools is still on course, education chiefs revealed today.

Patrick Scott, City of York Council's director of education, said he was hopeful that Government cash would be found for the joining of Oaklands and Lowfield before 2011.

"We're hoping to find money from Capital Receipts and a programme called the Targeted Capital Fund for Schools.

York MP Hugh Bayley said the fact the Government had provided an indication of when the city would benefit from the Building Schools for the Future scheme had helped "clarify" the spending situation.

Mr Bayley said: "The council must decide the best route forward. I will do what I can to get the funding for whatever route they decide."

Updated: 10:21 Wednesday, December 01, 2004