PLANS to create a £1million extension at a Rossendale school have been unveiled.

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, in Waterfoot, controversially converted to academy status earlier this year despite teachers staging a walk-out.

The proposals could see a new, purpose-built, two-storey complex, housing eight maths classrooms and a science laboratory replacing current temporary classrooms.

The school’s governors intend to submit a bid for funding to the Academies Capital Maintenance Fund, run by the Department for Education, by the end of January 2013.

Head teacher Alan Porteous said a total of £950,000 would be needed for the proposals to become a reality.

He said: “The project is part of our strategic development plan for the school buildings and comes subsequent to a similarly sized building to cater for our English department which was funded and project managed by the local authority.

“This proposed building will replace current temporary accommodation which is unfit for purpose and will provide for our maths department, another core subject.”

If the school’s bid proves to be successful when the grants are announced in April 2013, the money must be spent before April 2014.

Mr Porteous estimated it would take nine months for building work to be completed, and said the school’s decision to convert to academy status was telling.

He said: “Academy conversion has enabled us to bid for funding from the Academies Capital Maintenance Fund, which is only available to academies.

“Governors carefully considered the opportunities that we could offer students, staff and the wider community when converting to an academy.”

The proposed new building and six new car parking spaces would be situated on the right-hand side of Glen Road, with a flat area and disabled access planned to counteract the steep road’s traditional access problems.

The extension will also enable the school to boost pupil numbers from its current figure of 1,209 to around 1,300.