THE design of a new free school to help children who find it difficult to achieve in mainstream education have been revealed.

Images of the proposed plans to build The Heights on the former Ridgewood School site in Burnley.

The £5.4million school will provide education for around 150 pupils aged five to 16.

The site off Burleigh Street has stood empty since 2009 and was ravaged by a fire four years ago.

The proposed design includes a two storey site with an assembly hall, a dining hall, a drama studio, Key Stage two, three and four classrooms, a construction and catering room and a hair and beauty room.

The proposals also include a therapy and inclusion room, a medical treatment room, a parents room and a senior leadership and training room.

The Heights Burnley was given approval by the Education Secretary in September and is proposed to create 60 jobs.

It will be run by the Education Partnership Trust (EPT).

This comes as Hameldon Community College takes a step closer to closure after a statutory notice was issued by education chiefs.

Cllr Mark Townsend, leader of Burnley Council, said he was pleased to see more progress with the school plan.

He said: "Great news that this much needed school is now moving ahead.

"This will help the children who go to it to achieve their potential and alleviate some of the pressures on the other secondary schools to allow them to continually improve.

"This school was needed no matter what happens going forward regarding the future of Hameldon and is another positive step towards improving the standard of education generally across the borough."

The proposals include keeping the existing football pitch, which will be maintained for sports use.

The EPT already runs The Heights in Blackburn as well as Pleckgate High School, Coal Clough Academy and the Eden School.

The fire service believed the blaze which ripped through the former school eight years ago was started deliberately.

An Education Partnership Trust spokesman said: "The Heights Burnley will be opening in April 2019 as an alternative provision free school for pupils aged five to sixteen.

"It will provide high quality vocational education from state of the art facilities in addition to core subjects for pupils who have found it difficult to achieve in their mainstream setting.

"We will provide outstanding education with personalised pathways tailored to the needs of each pupil with a key focus on the core subjects of English, mathematics and science in addition to the vocational subjects.

"Learning outside the classroom will form a key part of the primary curriculum enabling pupils to develop confidence by experiencing a hands-on learning experience within a natural environment.

"Our pupils will achieve the best possible educational outcomes whilst gaining the skills, experience and knowledge needed to achieve a successful transition into further education, employment and training.

"The Heights Burnley will form part of the Education Partnership Trust."

The school is set to incorporate Forest School teaching, which is hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees.

Within a planning document, a spokesman on behalf of the applicant said the building have been designed to sit comfortable within its setting.

An outline application has also been made to build 24 houses with access on the site, with submission of reserved matters details needed by October 2019.

He said: "The exterior of the Heights school in Burnley is intended to provide a peaceful setting for its children to learn.

"As a result, the design team have looked to create a building that is both calm and modest in its appearance.

"Precedent examples such as Gatecare Community Comprehensive School and St Hilda’s Church of England High School reflect the kind of simple approach the Heights will echo. Both buildings combine a subtle brick palette with regular window openings which result in an attractive and practical appearance."