Investment of more than £8m for two Halifax primary schools

Copley Primary School and Moorside Community Primary School, Ovenden, are old and in such a poor condition that the decision has been made to rebuild them rather than carry out costly maintenance and repairs.

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet approved the funding and identified the two schools as a priority for investment,

It’s hoped they will be completed in time for the new term in September 2018.

Councillor Megan Swift, Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “Helping to ensure that young people achieve their potential through the best possible learning experience is one of the council’s priorities.

“We are excited to invest in new buildings at Copley and Moorside Schools to provide modern, state-of-the-art facilities.

“It’s not viable to keep maintaining old and costly schools, and the savings will be invested into further boosting pupils’ education.”

Parents of pupils at Copley Primary Scool and local residents are invited to a drop-in session on Monday, March 20, to view designs for the school.

The session will take place between 3.30pm and 6pm for parents and from 6pm to 7.30pm for residents.

Project officers from the council, school staff and the architects will be there to talk people through the plans for the new school and to answer questions.

Nan Oldfield, head teacher at Copley Primary School, said: “As a school we are really looking forward to the completion of the new build for all the children and parents of Copley School both now and in the future.

“The open evening will be an exciting opportunity for the Copley community to view the plans for the new school and see for themselves what a difference these new and modern facilities are going to make for all our pupils.”

Details of a drop-in session to see the plans for Moorside School will be confirmed.