Workers at Cockburn College of Arts in Beeston have uncovered a series of problems which have massively hindered progress on newstate-of-the-art classrooms.

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New teaching blocks, drama studios and a dining hall are being built at the school.

But major issues caused by unforeseen problems attaching new buildings to existing ones has seen the building scheme fall behind schedule.

Although much of the school is being replaced, a 1990s teaching block is being retained and has to be incorporated into the new design.

The first stage of the work started in April last year and was due for completion last month. It will now end in December.

As a result, the completion date for the entire project has been put back to December 2009.

The school's headteacher insisted the delays would not affect learning standards.

Chris Edwards, chief executive of Education Leeds, said: "There remain some unanticipated and unforeseeable events which may affect one or two refurbished facilities, especially at Cockburn where we have found structural issues with the original building.

"What matters is that these schools get inspiring, brilliant learning facilities which transform learning for generations of local children.

"We will do whatever it takes to make sure that we get it right, that we hand them over at appropriate times in the school year and that the building programme does not disrupt
young people's learning."

The cash for improvements to the school is part of a three-phase £220m Building Schools for the Future programme that will eventually see 14
schools replaced or refurbished.

Temple Moor and Cockburn are part of phase one, which also includes completely new schools for Allerton
High in Moortown, Pudsey Grangefield and Rodillian in Lofthouse.

These buildings are all due to open on time in September.

The schools are being built by Environments for Learning, a consortium led by business support firm Interserve.