A SPECIALIST school has held its final governors’ meeting before it becomes an academy in the New Year.

Tor View Community Special School in Haslingden will no longer be under the control of Lancashire County Council after becoming a multi-academy trust.

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Governors have held their final meeting as a single school and first as The View Trust before the change-over.

It comes as the ‘outstanding’ Clod Lane school’s campaign to raise £2million for a new sports hall gathers pace with plans to submit a bid to the Department for Education next year.

Principal Andrew Squire said the idea of becoming an academy trust had been around for a considerable time and they made a decision about a year and a half ago.

He said: “The council has been very supportive and has always provided schools with lots of services, but the big issue over the last few years is year on year cuts to its budget.

“No authority can absorb all of that without it having an impact on services.

“We are sad to be leaving the council but it is expedient for the school.”

He said the focus now is on continuing to develop the school and keep the ‘outstanding’ grading as well as being committed to being part of the family of schools in the county and particularly Rossendale.

They will also be looking for other schools to join The View Trust and opportunities to develop the curriculum and involve parents in that process.

“Staff and pupils will experience a modicum of rebranding, but it should make no difference to them. We will remain Tor View.”

Mr Squires said they have raised £20,000 towards the hall since they launched the two million steps campaign and will look at putting a bid into the Department for Education when the conversion is complete.

He said he hopes the hall, which is set to include a new hydrotherapy pool, will be open in the evenings and weekends for the community in Rossendale.

“The great thing about the launch of the two million steps campaign is it really raised the profile.We have made a great start and it has captured lots of imaginations in the community. We want to build on that.”

Peter Sweetmore, chair of governors, said: “If anybody can help us in anyway to raise this money for the benefit of the pupils we will be very grateful.

“We are an all age school and the one facility we are missing is a sports facility. At the moment they use the school hall which is also used for events and at meal times.

“With it being a special school we need specialist equipment in a purpose built sports hall. We have got some exciting plans if we can manage to raise it.”