Wigan Borough’s schools are poised to benefit from a massive cash injection from the government.
Education chiefs in Wigan can bid for a share specifically to support the delivery of modern education facilities for young people boroughwide.
“Making real improvements for all our children is at the top of our agenda,” says Cllr Susan Loudon, cabinet champion for children. “There are many changes coming for education in our borough. I want all parents, children, teaching staff and those who support our young people to be reassured that the government’s investment means we can plan for, and deliver, the very best.”
Detailed plans to make best use of the funding include:
- transforming Atherton’s Hesketh Fletcher High and the Pembec site in Pemberton into 14-19 centres,
- expanding the High Schools at Westleigh, Fred Longworth and Hindley,
- creating one central school for Lowton and Golborne which could include a primary school and a children’s centre,
- creating one new school for Ashton, and
- creating a central new school for Standish and Shevington.
Education bosses are expecting to begin consultation on the proposals for the Building Schools for the Future programme shortly. A decision by the council’s cabinet will be made at the end of the year.
The council’s executive director of children and young people’s services, Nick Hudson, also welcomed the news. “This is very good news for Wigan Borough,” he said. “We have been successfully listed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families as able to bid for a share of this cash. I regard this as a fantastic opportunity to transform the lives of future generations by rebuilding, remodelling or developing every one of our secondary schools.”
Already in progress is the new Abraham Guest High. The Orrell school has seen some £23m invested in a stylish modern ‘learning campus’ as the ‘pathfinder’ start for Building Schools for the Future in the borough. The site will feature not just the secondary school, but also a primary school, children’s centre, adult learning centre and joint school and public libraries.
