Kier has completed the new £35m Bolton St Catherine's Academy and Firwood High School.

The schools, which opened to students at Easter, provide learning facilities for an all-age academy of 1,160 students and a co-located special school which provides an inclusive 'single learning community' under one roof.

Designed by architects Sheppard Robson, the new facility supports the amalgamation of the two schools, and the entire community is designed to be accessible to special education needs (SEN) students. The layout of the school is organised around a central space, forming a circulation hub that will become the heart of the learning community and the facilities will be shared by all students, including a Learning Resource Centre.

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The learning spaces within the building are flexible and adaptable to the changing needs of students and teachers, while the external areas provide spaces for learning and recreation for all ages and abilities. The special needs accommodation is focused around a central heart space connecting both floors. Facilities include a hydrotherapy pool, sensory rooms, SEN sixth form provision and an independent living training flat.

In addition to the academy's sports facilities, there is also a suite of external PE and recreational areas including a sensory garden, trim trail and games pitch. A state-of-the-art minibus drop-off area has also been created to cater for the 14 buses which will bring students to the school every day.

Principal Jonathan Steele commented: "The teachers and students are all extremely excited about the new facilities and can’t wait to get up and running. St Catherine’s and Firwood have worked together throughout the development process of this project and will continue to work together in the future to ensure we create an outstanding learning community that can be an example to us all. These facilities will support us in our aims to increase aspiration, maximise achievement and ensure everyone can make a valuable contribution."

(CD)