Keys handover means special schools will open on schedule

THE keys to three new special schools were handed over to Bradford Council yesterday.

Delius Primary Special School in Barkerend Road, Bradford; Chellow Heights Special Primary in Thorn Lane, Bradford; and Phoenix Special Primary School, in Keighley, will all open to children on schedule on April 26.

Yesterday the leader of the council, Kris Hopkins, along with the strategic director for services to children and young people Kath Tunstall and Coun Michael Kelly, the authority's executive member for services to children and young people, received the keys at Phoenix School.

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Pupils and staff from the schools contributed to their design and all include new ICT facilities and hydrotherapy pools.

Phoenix primary is co-located with the newly built Merlin Top Primary School which opened in February and was funded as part of the Government's Primary Capital Funding.

The school offers a range of facilities, including an outdoor floodlit multiple-use games area, a multi-use indoor hall, and a new football pitch is set to be seeded – and all of the facilities can also be used by the local community.

The headteacher at Merlin Top, Sandra Firm, said: "It really is wonderful to be working in such a bright and colourful environment.

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"It feels like we've been here for a long time, even though it's only been a few weeks. The children love the environment and were settled from day one.

"It's bright and cheerful and the facilities are incomparable with our old site. I'm sure that these fantastic facilities will give our children and parents the aspiration to achieve more."

The headteacher at Phoenix School, Gary Bowden, said: "We are really looking forward to opening and being part of a joint site"

The building of all three schools was paid for by Bradford Council.

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Coun Kelly said: "It really is a fantastic achievement that after years of careful planning, the council is able to provide these new schools.

"They are such a stimulating and state-of-the-art learning environment for children, and are schools which the local community really can be proud of."