Work underway on Falinge Park and Wardle BSF projects

Images of the completed Falinge Park High School project

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The future education prospects for youngsters at Falinge Park and Wardle high schools are looking bright as both schools are set to benefit from £35 million Building Schools for the Future (BSF) investment by 2014.

Approximately 70% of each school will be completely rebuilt, with existing buildings being remodelled and refurbished. Construction work has already started at both of the new schools, which are due to be completed by the end of 2013. The schools will also benefit from new ICT equipment throughout.

The development at Falinge Park High School will see the construction of a new three-storey building on the site, and a complete refurbishment of the existing sports hall and gym which will be retained and linked to the new building. The existing dance studio will also be retained, with additional dry change facilities provided. Teaching and learning accommodation will offer a combination of traditional cellular spaces and more open, flexible use spaces, whilst specialist accommodation for ICT study will be provided through the former City Learning Centre (CLC) building.

The development at Wardle High School will consolidate the new school accommodation on the west portion of the currently developed area of the site, adjacent to Birch Road. The new school buildings will be set further back from the road, which will greatly improve the approach to the school. Sports facilities will be significantly enhanced with the provision of a new all weather pitch and new sports hall in line with Sport England standards. The existing grass playing fields and multi-use games areas (MUGAs) will be retained along with a number of the existing buildings on site, including the swimming pool.

Both schools will remain fully operational throughout the construction period. To avoid any disruption to teaching and learning, the location of the new buildings has been carefully chosen and a detailed phasing and decant strategy has been developed in conjunction with each schools’ Senior Management Team.

The new school buildings will be ready for occupation from the start of the new term in January 2014. Demolition of existing buildings will commence in January 2014 and be completed by June 2014.

The positioning of the new buildings will allow the pupils to remain on site during the build to minimise disruption to pupils’ education. Once the building works are completed the schools will decant into the new and refurbished accommodation whilst their existing buildings are demolished and the area is landscaped.

Falinge and Wardle are amongst 13 secondary schools who will receive investment in the form of new or remodelled buildings by 2014 through Rochdale’s BSF Programme.

Rochdale Borough Council and its Local Education Partnership inspiredspaces, which includes integrated support services and construction company Carillion, are working in partnership to deliver these plans. The BSF programme is supporting local firms to carry out as much of the work as possible through a regeneration package aimed at supporting local business and boosting the local economy. Over £8 million has already been spent in the borough and a further £36 million locally.

A key feature of the BSF programme is the involvement of students in the design of the new school buildings and services. In addition, we have provided over 2,500 donated hours to support school curriculum projects and careers events and over 30 students have taken part in our work placement programme. We have also created 37 apprenticeship opportunities and 53 local jobs to date.

The progress across the borough so far shows:

- £21million new build Hollingworth Business & Enterprise College in Milnrow: opened on 5 September 2011

- £14.5million part-rebuild and remodelling of Siddal Moor Sports College in Heywood: completed in January 2012

- £10 million remodelling and refurbishment of Matthew Moss High School in Rochdale: completed in April 2012.

- £12m part-rebuild and remodelling of Cardinal Langley RC High School in Middleton

- £4m new build Darnhill Study Centre in Heywood and refurbishment of Saxon Hall Study Centre in Rochdale: close to completion and scheduled to be completed in August 2012.

- Construction work is ongoing at five other secondary school sites, bringing a further £50 million of investment into secondary education across the borough.

Helen Winn, Education Manager for Rochdale’s Local Education Partnership, said: “These exciting projects will provide pupils, staff and their local communities with excellent facilities and first class learning environments.”

Sandra Bowness, Director of Support for Learning at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “I’m delighted that work has started on the exciting projects at Falinge Park and Wardle schools.

“The new facilities that will be provided at both sites will be of great benefit to students in their academic studies and extra-curricular activities.

Councillor Donna Martin, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, said: “The BSF programme is transforming education provision across the borough and providing the perfect complement to the dedication and commitment that our young people possess.

“The borough’s students have achieved some very good A level and GCSE results this year and these latest projects will once again provide young people with an excellent environment in which to make the most of their talents.”