School expansion is given go-ahead
JONATHAN GRIEVE
ASCHOOL has announced eight redundancies as part of controversial restructuring plans.
Hyndburn Academy, formerly Norden High School and Sports College, will lose five teaching and three non-teaching staff.
Operated by United Learning trust, they said a number of new posts in specialist areas have been created and filled already to allow every subject to be taught by subject specialists from September in the Rishton school.
An Academy spokesman added: “We have been undertaking a restructuring of the school so that we can ensure that our students are able to access an appropriate curriculum in the future. This has included making a small number of redun
dancies of teaching and non-teaching staff. At all times, we aim to minimise compulsory redundancies and have managed to do so. Redundancies are never something that we look to make but, as with many other schools across the country, they are sometimes sadly inevitable.”
Plans to expand the academy were approved by Hyndburn Council’s planning committee only last week and Stourton Street residents had expressed concerns over the impact of proposals to knock down two blocks.
As part of a comprehensive refurbishment, it is proposed to demolish the old science block, as well as the Raising of School Leaving Age block, which is unused due to asbestos.
All classrooms will be refurbished, while science labs will be relocated to the main building first floor. The main entrance to the academy will also be moved and the demolition area will be tarmacked over to be used as a staff car park.
Resident Nigel Airey said the development would exacerbate the parking situation at the school.
But planning committee members said the needs of schoolchildren came first. School bosses hope work on the development will start as early as September.
Mr Airey said: “For over 30 years there has been a problem with parking on Stourton Street. Present day, that problem has now escalated to a point that parking at peak times and in the evenings has reached saturation point.
“We have no objection to the school building an extension but it just seems that the residents don’t count. The fact is that the school comes first but the houses were there before the school.” Mr Airey had suggested another solution whereby parking spaces could be created outside the proposed perimeter gates but on the footprint of the school.
Coun Kate Walsh, speaking for residents, suggested an extra exit from the site on Cliff Street. But members were told they had to decide on the plans as they were.
Headteacher Nicola Palmer said: “We are predominantly a walking school. At present, only a minority of students are dropped off and picked up.
“The academy will make sure visitors use the new car park and do not park on Stourton Street.”
Coun Dave Parkins said: “We have similar problems at every school in Hyndburn. I’m going to support this application because the future of the students overrides the parking issue.”