A DENTON primary school whose problems saw pupils wading through sewage and left with ‘battleground-like’ playing fields finally looks set to be replaced.
Russell Scott has had nothing but woe since its building opened its doors in 2015 after a £2.7 million rebuild.
At the time, now former Tameside Council leader Cllr Ged Cooney described it as ‘such a fantastic outcome.’
But before the ink on those words had even dried, head Steve Marsland was finding problems which have not stopped.
Pupils went through the entire school unable to play on the field.
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 Department for Education has applied to Tameside Council for permission to knock down the 10-year-old structure after a new two-storey school on the Clare Street site, which can accommodate the current 472 pupils, is built.
And documents reveal children will remain on site while the new facility is being built next door.
Once that is finished, they will transfer across, allowing the demolition of what would be the former school building.
Russell Scott was selected by the previous government as one of 239 new projects to receive funding as part of its School Rebuilding Programme.
Now documents supporting this latest application highlight why a replacement – which will be a ‘net zero carbon school’ and go where a disused field to the west of the site, further away from Clare Street – is needed.
They state: “The school was refurbished by Carillion in 2015, a company which later collapsed in 2018.
“Due to the poor and unfinished construction works carried out by Carillion, the school faces significant structural problems, flooding, fire safety defects and poor-quality open space which is unusable.
“The school is, therefore in urgent need of redevelopment to ensure the safety of its staff and pupils.
“The new build will be situated within the disused green field, towards the west which belongs to the school.
“This area was deemed unsafe due to poor condition and contamination concerns following the Carillion extension.
“It will deliver several unique benefits including an outstanding and modern educational facility with state-of-the-art learning facilities for all pupils.
“Provision of Special Educational Needs (SEN) units for children with complex needs. Dedicated staff parking on site for 32 car parking spaces (including three accessible spaces and four EV spaces) alongside 54 cycle parking spaces.
“High quality landscaping for learning, ecological benefits and to soften views into and out of the site.
“The proposals will deliver a modern replacement school building and associated facilities that offer modern accommodation for both pupils and staff in a welcoming and secure setting.”
As well as the L-shaped building, the new Russell Scott would have controlled access gates, a full CCTV system and enhanced external lighting.
Its ground floor would house nursery, reception and infant classrooms, as well as a block for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
That has been designed with its own entrance directly off what is now the neighbouring Crownpoint Shopping Park. Internal access has also been factored in.
The first floor would house the juniors, a library and a practical classroom. As well as usual toilets, a wheelchair-accessible WC will be provided in each floor.
It would also have a mini football pitch and a multi-use MUGA pitch, which would be the size of two netball courts.
Public consultation events saw favourable feedback for redevelopment, which will be music to the ears of both Mr Marsland and Denton’s MP, Andrew Gwynne, who has repeatedly raised the issue in parliament.
Detailing the issues, the former told the Correspondent: “The longer it goes on, the more it will cost because of more failures.
“I noticed problems on the very first day, within the first week we had to close for non-compliance with fire regulations.
“Our kids come past a building site, a bomb site that’s overgrown with fencing. We want them to have aspiration. What does it tell a child when nothing gets done?
“Our school motto is ‘Reach high and go far’ – and look at the facilities we have to battle. It’s not fair and it’s not been fair for a long time. It’s become normal.
“Architects and various other structural experts have condemned the building and only replacement and rebuild will be adequate.
“The heating has been condemned and is so inefficient that we have been paying £45,000 annually for our energy costs, when before Carillion botched it up it was between £12-£15,000.
“So since 2015, we have spent more than £180,000 in excessive energy bills. This is coming out of the general school budget for staff etc.”
Mr Gwynne questioned ministers of the then Conservative Government about what happened at Russell Scott and what will be done.
He said at different times: “There’s been a botched £2.7 million refurbishment by Carillion, which left the school with wrecked footings, a leaking roof, defective fire safety measures, inadequate drainage that floods the school with raw sewage and the playing fields still resemble the Somme.
“It needs £5 million to put right or a new build.
“It’s serious, so may I ask the secretary of state for an urgent meeting to look at how we can help Russell Scott give the children there the very best education in the very best buildings?”
Now, though, the end of the problems appears in sight as Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee, or officers, will decide to grant or refuse permission.