THE success of Malvern College's radical alternative to A-levels has led to plans for a £20m expansion.

More students, attracted by the prestigious independent school's offer of the innovative International Baccalaureate, has created a need for two new houses, 14 more classrooms, the re-siting of its prep school and additional sports facilities.

The expansion follows a 25 per cent increase in pupil numbers in the senior school since the turn of the millennium.

The project has been financed by an appeal made to former pupils, surpluses generated over the past few years, the future sale of current buildings, and the Malvernian Society, an old pupils group.

The most controversial move will see several new buildings in picturesque woodland called The Firs to the south of the main college estate, to provide accommodation for the prep school.

Malvern College headteacher Hugh Carson said the development on the woodland owned by the Malvernian Society would "be handled sensitively" and planning permission had not yet been granted.

He said: "The important thing to realise is there is no need to panic. We will not be flattening the woodland.

"The new development will have the same visibility as the building that's there at the moment."

The first phase of the development is planned to be completed by September next year and will see the extension of the pavilion to cater for 14 more classrooms. The second development consists of the construction of a Double Day House, aimed for a September 2008 opening, and providing accommodation for two houses of children and cooking and dining facilities.

The prep school relocation would not be completed for four years.

Mr Carson, who retires at the end of this year, said the attraction of the International Baccalaureate was the main reason for expansion.

The school has pioneered the IB, which encourages pupils to study more subjects than the traditional A-levels and write an extended dissertation.

He said: "With the abolishing of the assisted places scheme, I was worried but the success of the IB has given us confidence about the future.

"The IB has made us more attractive and I don't think we would be expanding in such a way had it not been introduced."