Civic dignitaries, school staff and supporters met at the former middle school site, where Kier is constructing the new two-storey school building which will start to take shape over the coming months.
Tristram Hobson, The Swanage School's new head teacher, described the milestone ceremony as a "wonderful moment".
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Swanage School chairman of governors Paul Angel added: "This is a momentous day for Swanage, watching the first foundations being laid for our wonderful new secondary school.
"I'm certain generations of children will love coming to The Swanage School, learning in this stunning new building and making the most of the beautiful landscape and coastline that draw so many other schools to visit Swanage each year."
Steve Tooley from Education Swanage – the group that established the free school project – said it represented the culmination of three years' hard work. He commented: "It will be the first piece of the new school that’s actually put into place.
"It has been a real community effort with hundreds of people expressing their support for the school, and that has been instrumental in making it happen."
(CD/JP)
