Tarleton Academy’s existing building could soon be demolished and replaced by a brand new school building and swimming pool.
Around 750 pupils could be walking into their new state-of-the-art facility in two years’ time if plans are approved after the current buildings were deemed “no longer fit for purpose”.
The intention is for the new school building to open in September 2023.
A planning application has been submitted to West Lancashire Borough Council for the erection of a new secondary school with associated outdoor play areas, multi-use games area, swimming pool, vehicle access and parking, cycle parking landscaping and the demolition of existing buildings.
Tarleton Academy is among the first 50 schools in the country to benefit from the Government’s £1billion School Rebuilding Programme which is designed to create energy efficient modern schools.
Images of how the new facility could look have been released.
The scheme looks set to get underway this September with preparatory works on the site next to the existing school.
The proposals have been drawn up by Sheppard Robson on behalf of Wilmott Dixon Construction.
In their application, they said: “The proposed development is for the Tarleton Academy which will provide a secondary school serving pupils through years 7-11.
“The site will be managed by the Endeavour Learning Trust which is a multi academy trust formed in 2019 and which is responsible for several schools across the North West.
“Tarleton Academy will replace the existing academy on site that will be demolished.
“The existing academy has come to the end of its design life and is no longer deemed fit for purpose.
“The new academy is to be located away from the existing building towards the east of the site. “This will allow the existing school to continue to function during the anticipated two year build process of the new school.
“The academy will have capacity for 150 pupils per year group, from years 7-11 (ages 11-16) giving a total size and capacity of 750 pupils.
“The new school will use the existing site entrance access point from the adjacent road Hesketh Lane.
“Further to the creation of the new academy, there is a requirement for the finished school to be Net Zero Carbon in Operation (NCZiO). The scheme hopes to be a pilot project for the Trust and therefore a rigorous approach to sustainable design will be adopted to achieve this target.
“The proposed three storey school block envisages the school organised as a series of spaces, internal and external, all related to learning and other pupil-centred activities. The building is organised as a linear block with triple height space to the dining area, main hall and drama studio at its heart. The linear block is split to form smaller linear blocks centred around the communal heart space and dining area. Teaching and support spaces are situated in these areas.
“The arrangement clusters admin support spaces together near the main entrance of the school and teaching spaces that will be used by the community at ground floor level.
“The building’s efficient structure, and easy construction allow for a cost effective solution that can be arranged as necessary to deliver the specific educational environment requirements. “The new building, parking, MUGA and formal play areas are located on a plateau to the west of the site. Playing fields and woodland make up the remaining parts of the site to the east, terracing down towards the canal and River Douglas.
“The building is located immediately east of the existing buildings, allowing the school to operate during the construction phase without any significant impact on the existing playing fields.
“A new MUGA (multi use games area) has been provided to support three full size netball courts and four tennis courts. This can be overmarked with other sports as required. The MUGA will be fenced with 3m ball stop fencing with the addition of a 3m acoustic fence to the northern boundary.”
Mrs Lesley Gwinnett, Executive Headteacher at Tarleton Academy, said: “We are delighted to be able to share our plans at last for the new school building. We have been working closely with the Department for Education for some time now to ensure that the plans provide the highest quality facilities for our students and staff.
“The school has been part of the community since 1961 and as such our neighbours are very important to us. We have been working with an experienced design team to create a new building that will provide the facilities we require while keeping the impact of the new building to a minimum. We believe that the new school will be an improvement for everyone in the village and surrounding areas.”
Katherine Fletcher MP for South Ribble, said: “This is fantastic news for Tarleton Academy.
“They have hugely exciting plans and a real passion and commitment to providing outstanding education in a warm and welcoming environment.
“I’m so pleased to see that its brilliant staff and students will have access to brand new facilities which, when built, will also give opportunities for the wider community.”
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