Delight as secondary school buildings opened

The new buildings are on two separate sites and the work has been carried out as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme and it is hoped the new facilities will help raise educational attainment.

Beckfoot Secondary School and Hazelbeck Secondary Special School are located on the same campus in Bingley, while Grange Technology College is located on the same campus as Southfield Secondary Special School in Great Horton.

Education bosses say combining mainstream and special schools on one campus brings the schools together within one community building to maximise the opportunity for inclusion. It will enable the schools to share resources, such as dining and sports facilities, while maintaining their own identity.

The buildings have been designed to be flexible, with large and well proportioned classrooms, and a number are designed with removable walls for flexibility. All the schools benefit from new ICT facilities.

Additionally, facilities on each campus will be available for community use in the future.

Coun Ralph Berry, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for children and young people’s services said: “Education is a top priority for the council.

“These excellent new facilities will help both pupils and teachers work together to offer the young people who attend them the best start in life.”

David Horn, head teacher of Beckfoot School said: “This is a really exciting time for the school. Lots of people have been involved in the new building, and it’s been a tremendous effort by everyone.”

Jill Burghardt, interim head teacher of Hazelbeck Secondary Special said: “It’s fantastic to have these new facilities and to be sharing the site with Beckfoot School. I believe it will provide long-term benefit to both schools and to the children who attend them.”