THE headteacher of Hampshire's largest school has hit out at county education bosses who have earmarked the site for a £1.7m expansion scheme.

Richard Cootes, who is due to retire after spending 20 years at the helm of Bay House Secondary School,Gosport, is angry the school has been forced to accept an influx of pupils that will see numbers rise to more than 2,000 by the end of 2002.

To meet the demands of that increase, Hampshire County Council is backing plans to build 14 new classrooms - including two IT classrooms - and staff facilities at the 1,925-strong school.

Mr Cootes said: "What Gosport actually needs is a fourth secondary school and we have been saying that for over ten years."