Work begins on new £8m classroom block at Lancaster school

Work began on the new building at the end of July, once school had broken up for the summer.

Phase 1 is due for completion by January 2023 and will house five state-of-the-art science laboratories, new facilities and workshops for design technology, and a food technology kitchen.

The new building will replace the 750-pupil school’s existing three storey building.

Phase 2 will begin after the handover of phase 1 and is due for completion in readiness for the new school year starting in September 2023.

This block will house an additional 11 ‘traditional’ classrooms.

A new central courtyard will be developed between the new and existing buildings, opening up a central green space for pupils to meet with their friends.

The new science and technology block is being built using modern methods of construction by main contractor Collinson Construction which means it can be built at Collinson’s own factory offsite in Catterall before being assembled on the school grounds once ready later in the year.

The modular construction method means the building can be completed quicker with less disruption for neighbours on Crag Road.

Funding has been secured for the new school buildings thanks to a number of successful bids from The Bay Learning Trust to the government’s Condition Improvement Fund with the support of Stratus9 Consulting.

Principal John Cowper said: “This new state-of-the-art school will be transformational for the education we are able to deliver to the young people of Lancaster.

“Our pupils at Central Lancaster High School deserve excellent facilities and the new school will bring a completely new look to the area. Alongside good quality teaching, these facilities will help students at Central Lancaster receive the best possible education so that they can flourish and go on to achieve at the highest level.”

Sally Kenyon, chief executive of The Bay Learning Trust, said: “We aim to provide excellent facilities for all the pupils in our schools. Central Lancaster High School is a very close-knit community and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to secure the funding to build the school that pupils and staff deserve. It will be a great addition to the Bay Learning Trust community of schools.”

Robert Duxbury, managing director of Collinson Construction, said: “We’re proud to be working in partnership with Central Lancaster High School on this project which will provide new high quality teaching spaces and benefit students and staff for generations to come.

“We’re investing heavily into our own modular manufacturing factory in Lancashire, including new state-of-the-art equipment, which coupled with our modular expertise and inhouse design and manufacturing facilities, has allowed the majority of the construction phase to be completed in our factory, with the final fit out works being completed on site – meaning minimal disruption to the wider school.”

The construction forms part of a range of upgrades to facilities across the family of schools managed by The Bay Learning Trust in the Lancaster and Morecambe area, including new science laboratories at Morecambe Bay Academy, along with fire safety and energy improvements at Carnforth High and Ripley St Thomas.

In total, more than £20m has been invested in schools across The Bay Learning Trust community of schools since 2018.