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‘Britain’s best’ special schools

Laura Shannon
4/12/2007

NEW era for education in Rochdale began on Friday with the opening of the borough’s new special schools.

Three have been built alongside mainstream schools in a pioneering change to the way children with special education needs are taught.

The new schools are Springside School and Hamer Community Primary, Redwood Secondary School and Oulder Hill School, and Newlands and Hollin Community Primary Schools in Middleton.

Children’s Commissioner, Sir Al Aynsley-Green carried out the opening ceremony at the Redwood and Oulder Hill site, which was attended by Paul Rowen MP, education director Terry Piggott, plus school staff, teachers parents and pupils.

The three new schools replace High Birch, Innes, and Rydings in Rochdale, Alderman Kay in Middleton and Birtle View in Heywood.

Redwood and Oulder Hill is the largest of the new sites and facilities include a Turkish-style bath, hydrotherapy pool area, three ICT suites, a performing arts studio, hair salon, light stimulation room and ‘The Street’, a shared area where pupils of both schools can socialise together.

Mr Piggott said: "This is a red letter day for education in Rochdale.

"We are bringing to an end the segregation of mainstream pupils and children with special educational needs

"I am really pleaded this has been brought to fruition after an awful lot of hard work.

"More than 1,000 people have been involved in this project. Over 400 children have been moved here.

"Now we have the best schools in Britain for special education."

Sir Al said: "There’s something quite unique here in Rochdale. You should be very proud.

"Children are at the heart of people’s thinking here. The whole culture has been changed.

"I don’t think I have ever seen such a confident group of children. Well done."