The works are expected to be completed by the start of the 2018 school year.

Mr Merlino said the upgrade would be a “complete transformation” for the school, incorporating modern classroom facilities, multi-purpose spaces and sports facilities, as well as art, library and administration rooms.

“The architects have now come up with a wonderful design, the next step is to go out to tender, [with] the construction starting early next year and completed by the end of next year,” he said.

“It’s currently a small school, we’ll be purchasing additional land adjacent to the school to provide additional  space for the kids that come here to Epsom Primary School.”

Mr Merlino would not be drawn on the size of the land to be acquired, or the cost, as those details were still subject to negotiation with the landowner.

He said the works were part of more than 1000 projects to upgrade education facilities across the state.

“You can’t get first-rate education in second-rate classrooms,” he said.

“What we’re doing right across Victoria is matching the excellent teaching and learning that is happening here at Epsom and in schools across Victoria with the very best modern facilities.”

Meanwhile Bendigo-based e+ architecture was appointed to oversee the upgrade of the Spring Gully Primary School, with the school due to meet the architect to start work on the plans this week.

The work includes provision for a new learning space and landscaping to create more open space.

Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan said the upgrades would bring the schools’ facilities into line with the quality of education they provided.

“Epsom and Spring Gully Primary Schools have fantastic staff and students and we are making sure they have state-of-the-art facilities to match,” she said.

“We are investing more than $22 million to upgrade Bendigo schools to ensure all local families have access to a great local school.”