Local schools to benefit from government’s rebuilding programme

Four local schools have been chosen by government to have new sites built as part of the first tranche of its new 10-year school rebuilding programme.

In the Rochdale borough, Littleborough Community Primary will be having a whole new school, while Kingsway Park High and Newhouse Academy will both be benefiting from substantial building work.

Whitworth Community High School, which comes under neighbouring borough Rossendale, will also benefit from the project.

The new Littleborough Community Primary School building will deliver a replacement new school with 14 new classrooms, new sports/assembly hall, nursery, for a 420 place school (60 places in each year group) and a 26 place nursery. Work on the new site is due to start from September 2021 and will be on land within the Littleborough campus so that a smooth transition to the new building can happen.

Louise Woodman, headteacher at Littleborough Community Primary, said: “I am delighted that we have been chosen for a new school. This is going to be really exciting for us and the wider community. Our children will be so thrilled and this is going to be hugely beneficial for them.”

Read more: Primary school could be completely rebuilt if chosen as one of ‘shovel ready’ projects to benefit from £1bn in government fundingPublished: 12 November 2020

 

 

Alex Burnham, headteacher at Newhouse Academy, said: “We are delighted that our academy has been chosen for this investment.  Our students and staff deserve the best and this will give them access to modern, state-of-the-art facilities that will also benefit future students for many years to come.

“Great things are already happening here at Newhouse Academy and this investment will boost our curriculum offer, providing the very best facilities in which our learning community can grow and flourish.

“In addition to all the plans and improvements we have put in place since joining the Hollingworth Learning Trust last April, we can now look forward to modern, engaging and efficient buildings and first-class facilities, providing the perfect setting for our young people to achieve their aspirations. 

“It’s certainly going to be an exciting few years as we see our academy develop.”

Councillor Kieran Heakin, Rochdale Council’s cabinet member for getting a good start, said: “This is absolutely magnificent news. These schools are going to benefit from new, state of the art facilities and ultimately that will be beneficial to children for years to come.”

Rossendale MP Jake Berry said: “Improving our schools across Rossendale & Darwen is a huge priority for me and something I've raised many times. I've always said that buildings don’t educate children, people do, but the environment in which children learn and are encouraged to grow is vital.

“I am delighted that Whitworth High will be one of the first of our local schools to benefit from new, modern, energy efficient school buildings as part of the PM’s school programme.”

Whitworth Community High School has also been contacted for comment.