Work has started in Crumpsall on the £17.5 million rebuild and refurbishment of Abraham Moss High School.

The 1,200 place Crescent Road school sits within a 40 acres development including a leisure centre, theatre, library, recording studio, further education facilities and a range of local agencies and community groups. The design includes accommodation for a 25 place Special Educational Needs resource provision.

The 60% new build and 40% upgrade of the school will result in a striking new main entrance, new dining facilities and an exterior covered area, a new courtyard with performance space, a sensory garden and an all weather sports pitch.

The three storey building will also have a range of new classrooms, a performing arts suite, art and design studios and a new hall, as well as administration offices, a staffroom and ICT infrastructure.

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The new environment will provide state of the art facilities for pupils following art, music and media courses to use creative digital applications to make music, images, multimedia art and videos.

A Learning Resource Centre will be at the heart of the school providing a wide range of digital and analogue teaching and learning resources. The architecture and interior design of the Learning Resource Centre will reflect the different cultures of pupils and the local community.

In addition, a new social inclusion centre will be a flexible space for the wide range of support agencies, teachers, mentors and support staff working with pupils' educational, social, emotional, behavioural and medical needs. It will also provide resources and online courses for adults.

Headteacher, David Watchorn, said: "The new facilities will provide the school with a fantastic range of accommodation which will enable the school to develop its vision even further to make every learning area excellent, supported by specialist teaching and associate staff at every level."

The new build will also provide workshops and other vocational environments suitable for work related learning.

A new Metrolink tram stop is due to open at Abraham Moss in the summer of 2011.

(CD/KMcA)