Darwen Vale High School is taking shape (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Darwen Vale High School is taking shape
10:49am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Darwen
WITH just seven months before the pupils’ return, Darwen Vale High School is taking shape.
Although teachers and pupils have been busy learning at the former Darwen Moorland site in Holden Fold, the builders have worked hard to transform the old site in Blackburn Road.
And, after two years of graft, it will be completed and ready to open in September.
A group of Year Seven pupils were given a guided tour of the building site that will soon be their school for the next four years.
Headteacher Fiona Jack, who joined the tour along with project manager Dave Yates, and Cathy Kenyon, PA to Mrs Jack, was visibly just as excited about the move as the pupils.
The front of the building is the same as before, but it has been cleaned and new windows put in.
Bosses at the school stress the importance of clinging on to the school’s heritage, with original oak panelling from the old building used in the library, and curved tiles have been salvaged to be used on two internal staircases.
But the modern touches are still there, with wireless throughout, an electric scoreboard in the sports hall and gym equipment to include running and rowing machines.
Mrs Jack said: “It is going to be so much nicer than where we are now.
“At the moment, staff and pupils are constantly wet. But here, nobody will have to go outside to get anywhere.
“I think everyone is looking forward to the big move.”
Other features of the school will be a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) garden, an outdoor amphitheatre, allotments, interactive whiteboards throughout and movable screens that can divide classrooms into two.
Lisobelle Hadson-Mahon, 11, said: “It is good that the classrooms can be split up. That’s a good use of space. I can’t wait to start here in September.”
Twelve-year-old Megan Eccles said: “I like the look of the art terrace. Art is one of my favourite subjects.
“It is a bit sad that the Year 11s won’t get to see the new school.”
Robert Black, 12, said: “I am very impressed and I like the look of the sports hall. I’m excited for the big move.”
Comments(3)
Graham Hartley
says...
4:15pm Tue 31 Jan 12
Well, select parts of it: Mrs Jack declared in this newspaper (Friday 20th January 2012) that she was "not interested in the problems the school had faced in the past." Odd; the school cannot have faced problems in the future. Perhaps she was thinking of problems exemplified by "what does a fish weigh if a fish weighs three pounds less than a fish and a half?" and expressing relief that she can comfortably leave the solution to (a few of) her teaching staff.
same-old-story
says...
11:51am Wed 1 Feb 12
happycyclist says...
11:03am Tue 31 Jan 12