A FOURTH new home in a decade has been found for an education unit catering for some of Burnley and Pendle’s most challenging pupils.

County council bosses are set to approve the relocation of the Isaac Centre short stay school from premises in Harrogate Crescent, to the former Harger Clough school site in Burnley.

The decision affects around 30 Key Stage Three pupils.

Currently Key Stage Four students, who have been removed from mainstream education, are already educated at the Alternative and Complimentary Educational and Residential (ACERS) campus.

A council spokesman said: “The Harrogate Crescent site can then be declared surplus.

“Its capital receipt has previously been the subject of a report to cabinet and earmarked to support the Building Schools for the Future programme.”

Previously the same service has been based in the old Marles Hill school, in Barrowford, and was also briefly housed in part of the former St Theodore’s school building, before that was redeveloped under the BSF initiative.

Back in 2003, the underperforming Marles Hill was placed in ‘special measures’ by education inspectors and pupils were removed ‘for health and safety reasons before its eventual closure in 2007.

But under headteacher Bob Paprosky the unit’s fortunes were turned around and an inspector stated in 2009 that the short stay school “makes a significant impact on improving the students’ attendance, behaviour and attitudes to learning.”

The unit deals with students who have been excluded from school for 15 days or more, who may also have emotional and behavioural problems.