February 24, 2010

New proposals to revamp Salford’s high schools

New proposals to revamp Salford’s high schools have been approved by councillors.
 
The new plans include definitive proposals to rebuild some schools and refurbish and enhance others.
 
The Roman Catholic diocese and the city’s Catholic schools are also being asked if they want to suggest further options.
 
The £165 million plans approved by the council’s cabinet propose:
 
The Swinton and Moorside High Schools – both schools to close and a new-build single campus. This will include provision from age three to 16 as a new, larger Moorside Primary School would be built as well.
The high schools remain part of a joint approach, with closure for both proposed. A single, 1,350-place high school for 11-16-year-olds would replace them. This would be built on the current Moorside playing fields through the PFI process (a mix of private and public funding). The current Moorside school site would also be used for sports facilities.
 
Wentworth High School – partial new-build plus refurbishment
There would be some new additions to the school building, complementing elements already rebuilt. It would have a minimum 750-pupil capacity and includes the provision of a Learning Recovery Unit (facilities for young people who require extra support for their learning) and provision for children on the autistic spectrum.
 
St Ambrose Barlow RC High School – rebuild the school on a site at Wardley for 750 pupils (11 to 16) with a post-16 provision for 250 pupils.
 
St Patrick’s RC High School – rebuild
The school is rebuilt for 900 pupils as an 11 to 16 PFI school.  The Learning and Skills Council has confirmed there is no funding available for a sixth-form.
 
All Hallows RC High School – refurbishment and enhancement on the existing site at its existing capacity of 600 places.
 
St George’s RC High School – Refurbish or enhance St George’s RC High School at its existing capacity of 549 places (11 to 16 provision) on its existing site.
 
Councillors will also ask the Catholic schools and the diocese if they want to put forward any further options for Roman Catholic secondary education in the city.
 
Oasis Academy MediaCityUK – the school is being built through the BSF programme but will be managed independently by Oasis Community Learning and funded from the DCSF.
Following discussions with Oasis Community Learning, the Department for Children Schools and Families and Partnership for Schools, Oasis Academy MediaCityUK be rebuilt for 900 pupils (11 to 16) with a 250 place post-16 provision, on the Salford Quays site.
 
Walkden High School and Irlam and Cadishead Community High School
Construction has started at Walkden for 1,500 pupils and at Irlam and Cadishead Community High School for 900, 11-16 pupils, with a 150-place sixth-form to open in September 2011.
 
The effect of the Schools Adjudicators decision to not allow the closure of St George’s meant education planners in the city had to re-examine the BSF programme.
 
Closure of St George’s would have provided pupils with the option to attend an enlarged, newly built St Ambrose Barlow, or one of the community schools in the area.  It would have released extra funding from the sale of the then redundant site.
 
Salford City Council leader Council leader Cllr John Merry said: “Our BSF plan is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for all of our schools and there is no agenda here other than providing a long-lasting legacy for our city.
 
”I want to make it absolutely clear that our proposal for St George’s is for its refurbishment on the existing site. What we are asking the Catholic schools and the diocese for more options if they have any, simple as that.”
 
Lead member for children’s services, Cllr John Warmisham added: “The approval of these proposals marks a major milestone in our plan to transform Salford’s schools.”
February 24th 2010 Posted to General, Local Issues

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