Construction company Willmott Dixon has started work on the new building for St Agnes C of E Primary school in Longsight, which will be built using a system of pre-fabricated wooden frames and timber panels manufactured at a factory in Switzerland.

The frames are cut by computer and interlinked like a jigsaw puzzle and is expected to save £10,000 and up to 6 weeks in construction time.

It is only the third building in the country to be constructed in this way.

The three-storey building will have a rooftop playground and zoned classrooms - allowing local residents access to gym and computer facilities out of hours.

The school is due to open in March 2009.