£9million boost for school

The new Middleton Technology “STEM” block

Middleton Technology School has received an early Christmas present with the signing of a £9million contract to deliver new and improved teaching facilities.

The school is the latest to benefit from Rochdale Council’s £192million BSF Programme, following closely on the heels of the new £4million Darnhill Study Centre in Heywood, where construction started last month.

As part of the contract, Middleton Technology will receive a brand new 3-storey technology block. This will be constructed alongside the school’s recently completed sixth form building and will be used to deliver specialist subjects such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The remainder of the school’s existing accommodation will be fully refurbished with ICT provision installed throughout.

The construction has been carefully phased around the school’s curriculum requirements, with all of the new teaching facilities due to be ready by September 2013. Once the school has moved in the remaining demolition and external landscaping works to be completed.

Councillor Donna Martin, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, described the news as “wonderful.”

She said: “The construction will provide state-of-the-art facilities providing pupils with the best possible education and opportunities for their future.”

Claire Butler, General Manager of inspiredspaces Rochdale, added: “We have had a fantastic amount of support from the school in helping us to develop a design that will support their high aspirations for their students.

“Although Middleton Technology School has already been rated as “Outstanding” by Ofsted, we hope that this investment will help the school to reach even greater heights.”

The new and improved facilities are part of the council’s ongoing investment in secondary education across the borough, with funding secured through the Building Schools for the Future programme. The investment programme is being delivered by the council’s local education partnership, inspiredspaces Rochdale, and their main building contractor, Carillion, who will initially deliver 14 secondary schools across Rochdale borough.

This will include three privately financed schools (to which Carillion will provide facilities management services over a 25 year concession period) and eight refurbished/remodelled schools. All 14 schools within Rochdale’s BSF programme will be completed by the end of 2014.