Willow Bank headteacher picks up keys for £7.6m new school in Newton-le-Willows

The Willow Bank school is the site of a huge £7.6m redevelopment project which has seen the old Red Bank Education Unit transformed into a state-of-the-art educational facility.

Serving as a replacement for the Penkford School in Newton-le-Willows, Willow Bank is a facility that caters for children with social, emotional and mental health needs.

This can include conditions such as ADHD, autism, and anxiety, with the facility ensuring these children are given the best environment for education as possible.

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The headteacher was given a tour of the new school (Image: St Helens Council)

Approved by St Helens Council in 2020, the Galliford Try development has seen a new sports hall, canteen and offices added on to extensions of the abandoned building.

It has also installed dedicated food technology and fully equipped science rooms, alongside redeveloped grounds and sports fields to provide a wide range of activities and development opportunities for pupils.

Some of the new classrooms inside Willow Bank (Image: St Helens Council)

Anne Kyle, Headteacher at Willow Bank School, said: “The school serves the whole of St Helens and we are absolutely delighted to be able to move into our new building over half term to welcome back the children into this multimillion-pound modern facility.

"Our children of St Helens that have needs like this deserve the very best after having to learn in the old Penkford building."

The former Red Bank building has undergone a £7.6m redevelopment (Image: St Helens Council)

Councillor Nova Charlton, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, added: “It is such an exciting time for the pupils and staff as they make the transition to their new school.

"The creation of Willow Bank School will further enhance the fantastic education that the staff have always offered to children at its former site Penkford.

"It has been built with the needs of the pupils at the forefront of its design with a number of features that will provide children with specialist support to meet their needs.  

“This investment will benefit so many families across the borough as Willow Bank School provides specialist education and is a real asset. The previous facilities at Penkford are no match for what we can now offer at Willow Bank and I hope the pupils and staff flourish in their new home.”  

The new facility opens for students after October half term (Image: St Helens Council)

The school will open to pupils on their return from October half-term.