First look at £10m primary school that opened in Clitheroe

Construction on Ribblesdale School primary provision started in January 2023 and includes a new football pitch, multi-use games area and general play area.

The new school, at Higher Standen Farm, has been set up as a through school with Ribblesdale High and will operate on a split site, allowing pupils to share both site facilities and specialist teaching staff.

Ribblesdale School primary provision welcomed its first cohort of children this September and will provide 210 places when full.

Councillor Tim Ashton and Jayne Rear with headteacher Anne-Marie Horrocks and Ribblesdale pupils (Image: Council)

This week, Councillor Jayne Rear, Lancashire council’s cabinet member for education and skills, and Tim Ashton, vice chairman of the county council, had the honour unveiling the commemorative plaque to mark the official opening of the new primary provision.

Manchester poet, Tony Walsh, cut the ribbon to celebrate the opening. 

Cllr Rear said: "Ribblesdale School's primary provision will deliver future school places to a growing community in the Ribble Valley.

"The building was built within budget and on time for the September 2023 pupil intake and delivered in line with our net zero aspirations.

"It has been designed in such a way that if and when required, the school can be easily expanded to meet future demands in the area.

"Year 6 pupils will also secure be guaranteed a place in Year 7 at Ribblesdale, should they want to remain, benefitting from a much smoother transition to secondary school when the time comes."

Anne-Marie Horrocks, headteacher at Ribblesdale, said: “Pupils attending Ribblesdale’s primary provision will access a truly cohesive through-school curriculum delivered by highly skilled specialist teachers and they’ll have the run of this fabulous building and all its facilities.

"Ribblesdale is an inclusive school with an exclusive offering. We’re so excited about all the opportunities ahead for our little ones."