School to open it doors again

A new school is set to breathe life into a disused Sunderland building, bringing 50 new jobs.

The former Sunderland High School’s junior school site in Ashbrooke Road, is all set to become a place of learning again.

The site will become the new Ashbrooke School, having been bought by the Witherslack Group, which is one of the country’s leading providers of independent specialist education and care, for children with special education needs, including youngsters with autism.

Matt Boyle, marketing manager for the Witherslack Group, said consultation with householders in the area of the school, which will cater for both primary and secondary students, have been carried out and they have had a lot of support from the community for the new school.

He said there will be a short period of re-development and upgrading, and the school is expected to open in the spring of 2017 to its first cohort of children.

Mr Boyle said Ashbrooke School will offer state-of-the-art educational resources and facilities and class sizes are usually about seven children in each.

It is anticipated that the school will create about 50 new jobs, including teachers, therapists, teaching assistants, a pastoral team and support staff.

Phil Jones, Witherslack Group’s chief executive officer, said: “When open, Ashbrooke School will be an absolutely stunning educational setting that will not only provide inspiration and opportunity to young people, but also fantastic career opportunities to local people.”

A recruitment fair is being held on Wednesday, November 2, at the school in Ashbrooke Road at 3.30pm, 5pm and 6pm.

For more information, visit www.witherslackgroup.co.uk or email applications@witherslackgroup.co.uk.