Pupils come back from summer holidays to revamped schools

High Storrs School on Ringinglow Road is the latest school to be redeveloped by Vinci Construction UK as part of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project in Sheffield, which has already passed the halfway point.

After being on the same site for more than 80 years, High Storrs School was revamped at a cost of £27m and was reopened last year after work was completed to upgrade the 1920s Art Deco structure.

The entrance and reception areas were restored by a team of architects to reflect the school as it would have looked when it first opened.

The project also included returning the assembly hall, the adjoining wings and the stage to how they would have looked in the 1920s, while newly-added modern features include an interactive whiteboard in every classroom.

Work has now completely finished on the last part of the construction phase at High Storrs, which has also included an extension to the sports hall.

Head teacher Ian Gage said: “It is great to now be working in the finished project. We count ourselves as very lucky to have such a modern and up-to-date school thanks to the BSF programme, while at the same time being able to keep the fabulous and distinctive exterior façade which makes this building stand out from any other school.

“It is a great building to work in and one which I know our students are very proud to be part of.”

Building Schools for the Future was a Labour government intiative which was scrapped by the Conservatives owing to costs when the coalition took power last year.

All schemes which had not reached “financial close” – including those in Doncaster and Rotherham – were abandoned, while those that were suitably advanced, such as in Barnsley and Sheffield, went ahead.

Coun Jackie Drayton, Sheffield Council’s cabinet spokesman for education, said: “We are lucky here in Sheffield to still be able to continue with this BSF programme, when it has been halted in other areas.

“I, for one, am pleased to see the fruits of all our hard work coming together in these great new and refurbished buildings across the city.

“There is no doubt they will go a long way to helping our young people get off to the right start with their education.”

Keith Shivers, regional director of Vinci Construction UK, added: “This has been one of the longest projects we have worked on under the BSF scheme. but one which I am particularly proud of.”

In Barnsley, meanwhile, the seventh school in the town’s BSF scheme has now been completed.

Greenacre School, a special school, for children aged between two and 19, is one of 11 new schools to be redeveloped in Barnsley at a cost of £1bn. The next school to open will be the Shafton Advanced Learning Centre in January 2012.

The newly-opened special school includes up-to-date facilities such as a hydro-pool, a fitness suite and a hair and beauty salon.

Coun Linda Burgess from Barnsley Council said: “This is a wonderful new building with the best possible learning spaces and resources for the children and young people who attend this outstanding special school.”

Headteacher Susan Hayter added: “The new building gives the pupils so many new and exciting learning opportunities.

“We really do have the facilities to personalise the learning for each child. The staff have done an amazing job in preparing he children for the move and making sure that from day one the children can get on and learn.”

While not part of the BSF project, a new £8m Wentworth Building with a raft of eco-friendly features has also now opened at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology.