School relocation plans approach key date as works progress

School relocation plans approach key date as works progress

Councillor Bullen (left) with council officers on a visit to the site

The relocation of a Wigan Borough SEND school and college - part of a major investment project by Wigan Council - is approaching a key milestone.

First phase construction works for the new Hope School at Central Park campus in Worsley Hall are nearing completion and council representatives visited to view the progress earlier this month.

The move will see upgraded, state-of-the-art facilities on the site, expanding the school and college’s intake to 250 places.

The first phase works include repurposing two existing former school buildings to accommodate a new sixth form facility.

Councillor Jenny Bullen, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “This project is a major part of our wider plans to improve our SEND provision across the borough and it was exciting to see the progress that has been made.

“The new facilities have been designed with our young people in mind and I’m confident that pupils and staff will thrive in their new surroundings.

“We can’t wait to see the first pupils move over to the new site later this year.”

Students will move over to the new site in phases, starting with the sixth form from May 2023 and with the rest of the school by the end of 2024.

Proposals for the relocation were first unveiled in 2019 following concerns the current site was becoming increasingly not-fit-for-purpose.

The second phase of the plans – due to start in the coming months - includes the construction of a new build primary age facility along with the demolition of other redundant buildings at the Montrose Avenue site.

Cath Pealing, assistant director - education, said: “Pupils are receiving regular updates about the works and we enjoyed the site visit to see the amount of progress that has been made.

“The new site is a major part of our 10-year plan to transform SEND provision across Wigan Borough and we’re excited for what’s to come through 2023 as we get nearer to seeing pupils start a new era from here.”

Further information can be found on our SEND webpages.