Glimpse inside the new school with the wow factor

and clinically academic, represents a definitive 21st century alternative to the tired buildings that have graced the site for more than 50 years.

And as preparations are made to bulldoze the old school – formed in the 1970s from the amalgamation of St Gregory’s and St Augustine’s – so principal Anita Bodurka and her team have embraced a bright new beginning.

“As you can imagine my feet haven’t touched the ground,” said Miss Bodurka, who is embarking on her eighth year as principal.

“It’s very early days but so far it’s all good. There have been a lot of wideeyed children. It feels like it has been a long time coming but it’s picked up momentum and feels like a new beginning.”

All Saints was one of a batch of seven schools – another was Whitcliffe Mount in Cleckheaton – that received funding from the Education Funding Agency to evolve and develop themselves. The route to the new build began in 2013 after a condition survey revealed the cost of refurbishing the existing site was prohibitive.

With the backing of the Diocese of Leeds, Kirklees Council put in a bid for a new building, which was approved. The resultant three-storey college boasts 55 classrooms, library, chapel, sports hall, dining hall, drama/dance/ fitness studio and an inclusion centre for pupils needing extra support.

Currently it has 720 pupils aged 11-16. At capacity the number will climb to 900. Students are taken from nine Catholic primary feeder schools in Huddersfield and Halifax.

The college’s three floors are divided into Body, Soul and Mind.

Body (ground floor) covers aesthetic subjects such as art, design/ technology, food and sports, plus the library and chapel.

Soul (first floor) incorporates RE, English, and modern languages (French and Spanish).

Mind (second floor) features humanities: science, maths, history and geography.

“All Saints was originally designed as two separate schools. It was later joined up, However we didn’t have a sports centre. Instead we had two old gyms,” said Miss Bodurka

“This new build is more compact than the old school. It has provided us with brand new designed classrooms but also a fantastic sports hall. Previously design and technology were in an outcrop of the building. They are now sited here in the new building. Music and drama were not together. Now we have a fit-for-purpose drama studio. There is still work to be done but there is definitely a wow factor about it.”

The old All Saints is earmarked for demolition followed by landscaping. The area will also host a car park and, crucially, a multi-use games area including tennis courts.

Miss Bodurka was mindful of the school’s legacy and so open mornings were held in order that former pupils