Halton's first freeschool announces £10m new building (From Runcorn and Widnes World)
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Iconic £10m new school unveiled for Sandymoor
12:40pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News By Barbara Jordan
Nicole Smith, Chantelle Stewart, Rebecca Edwards, Alfie Rowlands, Rebecca Fentlon, and Eleanor Watson look at the plans
A DREAM by five aspirational Runcorn parents to create Halton’s first freeschool is taking shape.
Sandymoor School, which opened in portable units last year, has appointed Keir Construction to build a £10 million school.
It is set to open in September 2014, for years seven to 10, with a sixth form, if plans are approved.
Head teacher Andy Green-Howard, said: “It is a hugely exciting project. My vision is for something iconic that the community can be proud of.
“The construction will bring income and jobs to the local area.”
He said it will break frontiers to reflect the school’s unique vision.
He said: “We will build a school to fit what we want to do.
“There will be lots of big, open, versatile spaces and university-style seminar rooms.
“Children of different ages will be taught in the same class.”
Plans for the three-storey school will be submitted to Halton Council within the next eight weeks.
It will take 10 months to construct.
More than 70 per cent of the current 38 pupils live within a mile of Sandymoor.
Extra temporary classrooms, a science lab, reception, and bigger staff room, will be installed in September, 2013, as the school grows to accommodate more than 100 pupils, nine teachers and 15 non-teaching staff.
More than 80 teachers applied for three teaching vacancies.
Mr Green-Howard said: “We are running ahead of target.
“We have had hugely encouraging feedback from parents.
“One boy who was being bullied was transferred to us. His father looked me in the eye and said: ‘Thank you so much for bringing our son back to us’.
“That is what makes this job so rewarding.”
