Work begins on new £8m school

Lancashire-based Collinson Construction has started work on a new £8m school building.The company is building a new science and technology block for the 750-pupil Central Lancaster High School.Work to demolish four existing buildings at the Crag Road school, originally built in 1966, is now underway.Once complete, the building will feature five science laboratories, and new facilities and workshops for design technology and a food technology kitchen.The works will be followed by a second phase later in the year which will add an additional 11 classrooms.A new central courtyard will be developed between the new and existing buildings, opening up a green space for pupils to meet with their friends.Collinson Construction is acting as main contractor for the scheme.Robert Duxbury, managing director of Collinson Construction, said: “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 school is hoped to be open to pupils in January, with the second phase set to complete in September 2023.John Cowper, principal at Central Lancaster High School, said: “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.”