A much-needed new Bolton high school has finally been given approval by government.
The Kings Leadership Academy Farnworth free school has been on the cards for some time but was awaiting approval as part of the School Rebuilding Programme.
Bolton has struggled for secondary school places and a temporary academy has been operating on the site of the former Hayward School, on land off Freshfield Avenue and near Great Lever and Farnworth Golf Course.
The temporary school currently has two years in attendance but Bolton council had submitted plans to the Department for Education (DfE) for another permanent school including space for 900 students.
A separate Kings Leadership Academy for Bolton has already been approved by the council for greenbelt land on the site of the current temporary school.
The council's Executive Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Coun Anne Galloway, said: "This is great news for Bolton, expanding our secondary school offer and giving parents and pupils greater choice.
“We have been working hard to increase the number and variety of secondary school places available in the borough and this will be a welcome boost.
“It will add to places already created by expanding existing schools and the opening of the University Collegiate School last year.
“Plans are in the very early stages and we are yet to determine the best site for this new school.”
Announcing a raft of new schools across the country, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “Today we are launching the first phase of our ambitious new schools programme, with 50 rebuilds and 21 new free schools.
“The rebuilding projects are just the start of our major ten-year programme, transforming hundreds of schools and improving the education of tens of thousands of children. Alongside this, over 15,500 children will now benefit from 21 new free schools across the country as we look to build back better after the pandemic.
“I am determined to get all children back into education as soon as possible, and will make sure we do not let the pandemic stand in the way of giving every young person the opportunity to succeed, progress and fulfil their potential.”
