Academy to “take over” neighbouring primary school

BOROUGH council chiefs at Warrington have given the go-ahead for a “take-over” of a redundant primary school by a neighbouring academy school – to enable it to cope with a rising demand for places.
The buildings of Barrow Hall Primary School will be transferred to Great Sankey High School, which faces a likely demand for an additional 225 places by September 2018.
Members of the council’s executive board agreed to the move, which was proposed in a report presented by Cllr Jean Carter, lead member for children’s services (pictured).
Barrow Hall Primary is due to close and move to a new site at Omega in September.
The Barrow Hall Primary site is said to be worth £2 million and will be offered to the academy on a 125-year lease for a peppercorn rent.
Cllr Carter explained that it would be difficult to expand Great Sankey High because most of its site is already occupied by buildings.
“The main school building is single-storey only and the foundations are unlikely to support expansion by building up.
“In addition, the impact on day-to-day operational teaching and learning by introducing temporary accommodation on site and building disruption is consider unviable.
“Playing field space is also limited – half the playing fields at the site are owned by the parish council – and Sport England would object to building on green space.
“Alternatively, the expansion could be achieved by utilising the former primary school site and remodelling one or more of the buildings.”
The Warrington West area is served by three secondary schools and it is believed that by 2018 all three – Great Sankey High, Penketh High and St Gregory’s RC High – will be full.