Farnworth head teacher welcomes plans for new drama block

A head teacher has heralded the possibility of a new 'state-of-the-art' building at a Farnworth High School.

Sally Heppenstall, head of Harper Green High School, in Harper Green Road, Farnworth, is seeking permission to demolish three existing temporary classrooms and replace them with a modern two storey block.

This new block would include a new dance and drama studio as well as three more classrooms for the teaching of other subjects.

Harper Green was one of 16 schools in the borough to receive a share of £483m to invest and upgrade their buildings and classrooms earlier this year.

Ms Heppenstall has welcomed the funding and thinks the new block could help the students to 'thrive'.

She said: “We are delighted to have secured funding for another new build at Harper Green School. The new two-story building will house state-of-the-art dance and drama studios and three additional teaching classrooms. The area around the new build will be landscaped to enhance the school site aesthetically.

Harper Green High School, Farnworth

“The new facilities will add to our dynamic and stimulating learning environment and enhance the student’s learning experiences in Dance, Drama and Religious Studies. It will also enable additional enrichment opportunities to be offered both in and out of the school day.

“This is a truly exciting time for Harper Green School and our community, and we are very excited to see the construction work start. The new development symbolises our commitment to providing a warm, safe and rich environment that enables our students to thrive.”

The high school bid for a share of this ‘condition improvement fund’ in order to replace the temporary classrooms blocks due to structural issues and room closures.

The temporary classrooms are currently at the north end of the school buildings, with the new block in a courtyard closely surrounded by school buildings.

A proposed new teaching and drama facility at Harper Green School, Farnworth.

The condition improvement fund is an annual bidding round for eligible academies, sixth-form colleges and voluntary aided schools to apply for capital funding.

The priority for the fund is to address significant condition need, keeping education provider buildings safe and in good working order.

This includes funding projects to address health and safety issues, building compliance and poor building condition.

Bolton Council is set to decide on the plans in due course.

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