Transformation of Blackburn and Darwen schools starts this month

9.33.00am GMT Sat 9th Jan 2010

Cllr Chris Thayne announces start of new school building programme

Big changes are happening at a Blackburn school - the future is being built. The new term at Pleckgate Mathematics and Computing College will see the initial signs of activity on the first school to be constructed under the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Hoardings will go up around the site from January 4, with main construction work, carried out by Balfour Beatty, to commence in February. The new building will be constructed on the site behind the existing school.

The brand new school is due to open in September 2011 and will feature ultra- modern facilities for students and the whole community, including the latest ICT, indoor and outdoor sports amenities, state-of-the-art classrooms and equipment and green and energy-saving features.

Over the next few weeks access points to the school will remain the same and any changes to this will be fully co-ordinated by Balfour Beatty with the school to ensure students' safety.

Students will attend the same school building as usual throughout construction.

Local residents will be kept up-to-date with the construction programme via letters over the Christmas and New Year period. A community meeting will be held in January to inform residents about what is happening at the school.

David Tighe, Balfour Beatty project director for the construction works at Pleckgate said: "We are delighted to be starting work on Pleckgate Mathematics and Computing College in the New Year. We look forward to working with the school and the local community to ensure that all stakeholders are fully informed of the construction programme and progress."

Councillor Chris Thayne, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's executive member for children's services, said: "This is the first school under our BSF programme to start initial construction and it is a very exciting time for the borough and the school. This will provide young people and the community with the best facilities and wonderful education opportunities."