Matthew Moss rebuild complete

The science “pod” / Front of the school

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After nearly 20 months of construction work, the final building phase of the new Matthew Moss High School, Rochdale has been completed.

The school, which has been rebuilt with £10 million from the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, hosted an open evening to mark the momentous milestone in its history. The event was well attended by members of the local community, parents, governors and the project design team.

Whilst the structure of the building has been retained, internally the school has been completed remodelled.

The “hex” block, once a gym for trampolining, has been transformed into a vibrant Learning Resource Centre (LRC) with a new information communications technology (ICT) suite and conference room at mezzanine level. A new “pod” erected at the front of the school above the main entrance houses one large science lab and provides stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

A central “hub” area has been created within the main school building giving easy access to the LRC, dining facilities and main school hall as well as linking the existing sports building with the main building and ‘green’ block. Specialist areas of the new building have been fitted with Soundfield systems, and acoustically absorbent materials have been used where possible to support the Hearing Impaired Unit.

To improve creative and performing arts facilities, the inspiredspaces team brought together creative and performing arts spaces on a single floor, resulting in a dynamic space for performance whilst still retaining separate specialist spaces for music, art and drama. There is a similar arrangement for science with a central resource area which links all of the individual labs.

Dining facilities have been redesigned and expanded to include a new extension and additional lunchtime serveries. With its close proximity to the LRC as well as the main school hall, students, staff and the community are attracted to this space for socialising, while it can also be used as large format learning space for cross-curricular activities.

The new building, combined with the school’s innovative use of ICT, means that the curriculum can be delivered in new and exciting ways. One of the real stars of the show is a stunning new immersive learning suite, located within the main school hall. Through the use of leading edge ICT, audio and lighting facilities, the space can be transformed, using surround sound and interactive images, to truly bring learning to life.

Head teacher Andrew Raymer said: "Matthew Moss has been working over the last four years to develop a new and truly innovative Key Stage 3 Curriculum. This has attracted attention from as far afield as San Diego in the US and Australia. The “Innovation Unit” in London, which was started by the Department for Education, has listed Matthew Moss as one of 10 schools in the world for the 21st Century and the only one in Britain to make the list. We now have the building our learners deserve to go with our curriculum."

Cheryl Eastwood, Executive Director for Children’s Services at Rochdale Borough Council, said: "I am delighted that all the hard work and dedication of so many people has been rewarded with the completion of this great learning environment.

“The BSF programme is an investment in our children’s future and it is wonderful that pupils at Matthew Moss will benefit from these excellent new facilities.”

Claire Butler, inspiredspaces’ General Manager, said: “Our challenge is to transform learning environments which will help schools to provide young people with the skills, attitudes and values that they need to become successful, independent adults. The new Matthew Moss school now provides a wider range of learning spaces for different types of learning activity, supported by links to home/school ICT access. In particular, I am very proud of the site team and the support that they have provided to the school during the construction period. They have been involved in a number of curriculum-related projects, and have supported a whole range of work-based placements for students and apprentices, as well as local unemployed people to help them get a foot on the careers ladder.“