The future is bright for Hollingworth

Hollingworth Business and Enterprise College

Staff and pupils of Hollingworth Business and Enterprise College in Milnrow have had a very special start to the new academic year with the opening of their brand new £21m school, the first to be completed as part of Rochdale’s £192m Building Schools for the Future Programme.

The new school buildings and grounds have been designed and constructed in association with inspiredspaces (Rochdale’s local education partner), Carillion and Ryders architects.

In addition to supporting traditional learning, every space within the new school is fitted out with the latest e-learning technology which will enable the school's curriculum to be delivered in new and exciting ways.

There is also a dedicated ICT suite and Learning Resource Centre located to the front of the building which can be opened up to the community for use outside school hours while the community will also benefit from upgraded sports and changing facilities as well as a new space for theatre and drama.

The building has been designed to be sustainable and incorporates a range of energy saving features such as sensor-operated lights and low energy luminaires in addition to on-site renewable energy sources and rainwater harvesting.

Hollingworth BEC is one of 13 secondary schools that are being rebuilt or refurbished in Rochdale as part of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme.

Councillor Donna Martin, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, said: “The new school isn’t just about bricks and mortar but is firmly about designing the future of learning at Hollingworth Business and Enterprise College, and staff and pupils from the school have been involved throughout the design process.

“The school’s design brief throughout was to deliver facilities to support and enhance the outstanding teaching and learning recognised by the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection. It certainly looks as though this brief has been met - and more!”

Keith Hill, BSF Lead at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The completion of the new school building is excellent news; the college now boasts state-of-the-art facilities that will bring real benefits to the staff and all their students. Rochdale Borough Council is committed to education and this project is an example of our intention to provide first-class facilities for the future.”

Claire Butler, General Manager for inspiredspaces Rochdale, said: “Having been involved with this project right from the outset, it is very exciting to be able to walk around the finished school and to see the design really brought to life. It is great to see this level of investment brought into the borough. I am delighted that we have been able to spend over £2 million of this investment directly with local contractors and suppliers, as well as support local jobs and apprenticeships throughout the project.

“These fantastic new facilities could not have been achieved without the hard work of everyone involved, and I would like to say a big thank you to the Carillion site team who have worked long hours to make the scheme happen, and to the Rochdale Council team and school staff who have been so engaged and supportive throughout the whole process. I wish the school every success as they settle into their new home”.

Councillor Andy Kelly, whose daughter attends the school, said: “I am really looking forward to the new facilities, particularly the state of the art performance block. I know the school are already working hard on a new musical for December and are making great community links in order to make it the best possible performance.”