Councillors in Tameside have approved a million pound revamp of a former sixth form to accommodate more high school students.
Members of the borough’s cabinet have agreed to green light funding for works to be carried out at Audenshaw High School to expand its teaching space.
The all-boys school increased the number of pupils it takes in year 7 on an annual basis from 210 to 240 from September last year.
Extra teaching space was initially found using the old sixth provision at the Hazel Street school, which closed in June 2018.
After being empty for two years it required ‘cosmetic updating’ and the removal of fixed furniture, including redundant science units and a kitchenette to make rooms large enough to accommodate standard size classes.
This work took place in August 2020 as part of phase one of the expansion works.
Now more structural internal modelling is required to provide ten standard sized classrooms for general teaching.
And there is a need to remodel three spaces in the science block to create two extra science laboratories and a new food technology room.
These works will cost £1.06 million, and will be carried out in July and August to be completed in time for September.
Councillor Leanne Feeley, portfolio holder for lifelong learning, told the cabinet meeting the scheme would be ‘managed and delivered at pace’.
“It’s a team effort so we work together to deliver these projects,” she added.
“Audenshaw has been working with us to increase their admission numbers from 2021 so this growth in demand is the result of increased birth rates.
“Remodelling will provide the required accommodation for Audenshaw.”
The cabinet agreed to enter into a design and build contract with the Local Education Partnership (LEP).
Catherine Moseley, head of access and inclusion at the council added: “This report is the last step in the work that we’ve been doing with Audenshaw to bring their sixth form accommodation into use for their year 7 to 11 pupils following the closure of their sixth form in 2018.
“The other requirements they’ve got due to the increased pupil numbers across the school is for increased science and food tech provision.
“This conversion work would have happened last year but for the Covid situation and that put a halt on things for us in terms of actual people to do the job, and also uncertainty in terms of fixed costs due to Covid restrictions.”
The report to cabinet stated that pupil admission numbers are also due to increase in five other high schools across the borough from September.
