PUPILS of two schools that are to be replaced with state-of-the-art facilities say they don't want "showy" buildings.

Monmouth and Caldicot comprehensive schools are being replaced by Monmouthshire Council as part of a £80 million project.

Pupils at both schools have been asked what they would like to see replace the current schools which date back more than half a century.

The council's cabinet member for schools Cllr Liz Hackett-Pain (Con, Wyesham) said: "I was in Monmouth and each year group did some work and each of the school councils had their views and the sixth form came up with bullet points about what they wanted.

"They didn't want a showy building, they didn't want a theme park. It was commonsense."

Architect Simon Kneafsey, who is leading the county's 21st Century Schools programme, said pupils had "loved" pictures of rooms at the Aston Business School in Birmingham.

Planning applications for both schools are expected to be submitted in August with work starting early in 2015 and completion in 2016.

A key part of the planning application will have to show how any impact on pupils' education will be minimised.

While that will be "fairly easy" in Caldicot, the constraints of the Monmouth site make it more challenging, said Mr Kneafsey.

"There are bigger challenges at Monmouth because the site is quite compact and there is an element of flooding so we have to look at an element of decanting (pupils).

"We are looking at the curriculum to make sure it still delivers while allowing us to build.

"We are looking at temporary accommodation now – we haven't got carried away with how it looks at the end.

"This could be on site for 18 months to two years and we can't afford for it to affect GCSE and A-levels. "We have to demonstrate to the Welsh Government, the school and the (council's) Cabinet that we can deliver projects with the minimum of disruption.

"As part of any planning application we have to show how that is going to be done because it is going to be a big issue for parents."

A public meeting was held last week in Monmouth and another is planned in Caldicot.

The work at Caldicot and Monmouth is the first phase in the replacement of the county's four secondary schools.

A bid for funding to replace Chepstow School is likely to be made in 2017 or 2018.