St James CE High School celebrates long awaited multi-million pound investment in building

An old teaching block has finally been replaced by a modern development ­— more than thirty years after it was earmarked for demolition.

St James’ CE High School, one of Bolton’s outstanding and best performing schools, is celebrating have an environment fit for 21st century learning.

Until now children have been forced to learn in a dilapidated building which should have been pulled down in the 1980s.

The Farnworth school which boasts among the best GCSE results in the borough has been crying out for investment in the building for decades and this week its staff, pupils, parents and governors celebrated the opening of the £2.8 million maths and learning support block.

“Headteacher Tania Lewyckyj said: “This building means so much to us because at last we have decent classrooms for our children.

“We are delighted that it was built on time on budget with Modulex.

“Our building Consultants, Stratus 9, have been fantastic and have really helped us to secure funding from the Department of Education. I would also like to thank Lynn Heathcote, CEO of Rijo42, an ex-pupil, who donated desks and chairs for the office staff.”

Alan Bromley, former Chairman of Governors and his wife Sandra were invited to open the building and shared many special memories on the day.

They had been fighting for the building to be replaced since the 1980’s when the council tried to close the school due to condition of the old B block building. A Save our School campaign won and some of those parents, staff and pupils who fought to keep the school open attended the official opening.

Mr Bromley said: “It is wonderful that after so long the school has been rewarded for its effort with a new build. Although the building is very important, what has been more so has been the continuation of a strong ethos which, despite the building, has helped the school grow from strength to strength’.

Riley Brown, aged 11, and Charleigh Brierley, aged 12, who chair the student council said they were delighted with their new classrooms.

They said: “They are so comfortable and this means our learning is even better. We can all see the screens clearly and the rooms are air conditioned and warm.”

The school has already submitted a bid for a second building and hope to hear in April if they have been successful.

Lesley Durosomo, Chairman of Governors and Trustee of The Bishop Fraser Trust said how pleased she was with the final project and for the school to have a 21st Century building.

It is one of Bolton’s best performing schools ­— and now it has the facilities fit for a 21st century school.

St James’ CE High School which achieves among the best results in the borough has been crying out for investment in the building for decades and this week its staff, pupils, parents and governors celebrated the opening of a new block.

The Farnworth school has undergone a £2.8 million pound transformation to create a new maths and learning support block replacing a dilapidated old building which was earmarked for demolition in the 1980s with a modern new teaching block.