QUEST Academy is set for a £16million rebuild, in a bid to create a "truly outstanding" school for Selsdon.
Croydon Council has appointed Wates Construction to rebuild the school, in Farnborough Avenue, alongside the existing site, with the work expected to be complete by September 2014.
The plans will also deliver a community facility, combining Monks Hill Sports Centre and a new landscaped green space on the site of the old school.
Principal Andy Crofts told the Advertiser: "The current buildings were only designed to last 20 to 30 years but instead they have lasted 40 to 50 years.
"With the improvements the school has made, we wanted our aspirations to be mirrored by first-rate buildings."
Since the old Selsdon High School became an academy in 2010, it has made significant improvements, with a 2012 Ofsted inspection rating it as "good".
It was recently commended by education minister David Laws for being in the top 100 most-improved schools in the country.
Mr Crofts said he is sure the rebuild will help continue this upward trend.
He added: "I believe we are on a journey towards a truly outstanding school of choice for Selsdon.
"We have also tried to become a hub for Selsdon, which is what our new community facility will hopefully act as."
The new academy will include a state-of-the-art theatre, innovative learning areas and hi-tech IT facilities.
The new buildings will hold 900 pupils aged 11-16 and include a 215-capacity sixth form facility.
Mr Crofts said: "We are keen to help our students be as creative as possible and a theatre, which the current building doesn't have, will encourage the performing arts."
Subject to planning permission, work will start this summer and take 56 weeks.
The project is part of the government's Building Schools for the Future programme and will be jointly funded by the Education Funding Agency and Croydon Council.
