Denton primary school to be rebuilt after ‘botched’ refurbishment

A DENTON primary school left with pupils wading through sewage and ‘battleground-like’ playing fields will finally be rebuilt.

Russell Scott will receive funding as part of the Government’s School Rebuilding Programme, much to the delight of head Steve Marsland and the town’s MP, Andrew Gwynne.

When the Clare Street building opened its doors in 2015 after a £2.7 million rebuild, Tameside Councillor, now leader, Ged Cooney described it as ‘such a fantastic outcome.’

But before the ink on those words had even dried, Mr Marsland was finding problems which have not stopped.

Pupils now in Year Six have not been able to play on the field during their entire time there. It remains fenced off with warning signs after it became a dumping ground.

Sewage coming up into the playground, having to evacuate because of explosive levels of sewer gas that triggered alarms and other issues brought things to a head.

Now, though, the fiasco may come to an end with a new building after Russell Scott was selected as one of 239 new projects.

A letter from education secretary Gillian Keegan, who wants to work on a total of 500 schools nationwide, states: “We plan to replace or refurbish one or more buildings at this school, as appropriate for the condition of the buildings on its site.

“This will greatly improve the learning environment at this school for years to come.

“We will carry out further assessment to determine the sequencing of projects, and they will then enter delivery at a rate of approximately 50 per year from 2023 onwards.

“The exact scope of the projects at each school will be determined through detailed feasibility studies at the outset of each project.”

Mr Gwynne has continuously raised Russell Scott’s plight in Parliament, campaigning for the school to receive emergency funding for a rebuild.

Now after several meetings with ministers and even securing a debate in Parliamentary time to discuss the school’s plight, he is ecstatic.

He said: “This has been a long, arduous and at times frustrating process.

“However, I’m utterly delighted that the Government has finally listened to the concerns of myself and the staff at Russell Scott and granted this funding.

“I’ll continue to work to ensure that the children at Russell Scott benefit from a safe and secure learning environment.

“I’d also like to pay tribute to the dedication of Steve Marsland. Steve’s has tirelessly fought for the children of Russell Scott, and this victory is testament to his hard work.”

Mr Marsland, who has not been afraid to highlight the issues at Russell Scott, added: “This is the best Christmas present we could have dreamed of!

“It’s been a long eight years coming but it’s the most fantastic news the community of Russell Scott Primary School could have wished for.

“I must thank the new Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan, for eventually recognising the overwhelming difficulties that the school community has endured over all these years and prioritising the rebuilding of Russell Scott.

“The problems started on day one of the £2.4 million remodelling in 2015 by Carillion that now requires a rebuild.

“Carillion and those who supported their position and failed the school before they went into liquidation in 2017, should be ashamed of themselves that a school’s cry for help under severe and extreme difficulties should go unheard and unheeded.

“A bright future awaits Russell Scott with opportunities for our children that we could only have dreamt about before this announcement and we aim to fulfil those dreams.”