11th June 2008

St Helens Rugby League star, Paul Sculthorpe, proved a big hit with pupils and staff when he visited a South Lancashire school which provides quality education and care to children and young people with special needs.

Cumberland School in Bamber Bridge is part of The Witherslack Group’s growing portfolio and caters for secondary school pupils aged 11 to 16.

The Grade Two listed building, which was previously St Saviour’s primary school   has been modernised throughout. New buildings at the rear of the school provide  six classrooms, a science laboratory, an ICT suite, a Design Technology workshop, a Food Technology room and an Art studio. The school site also includes a number of playing fields which will be used for sport and games.

Paul Sculthorpe said: “It’s important that first-class facilities like this are available for children and families who need them.”

“The staff are passionate about the work that they do and have my admiration.”

Principal, Martin Hayhurst, said: “The opening day has been a great success. The parents/carers, pupils and Local Authorities are delighted with the new facilities on offer.

“For the first time in South Lancashire, the Witherslack Group is able to offer continuous education for children with special needs from the age of 5 through to 16. Cumberland School is now part of a 3-school partnership with our primary school (Westmorland School) in Chorley, and Cumberland Upper School in Blackburn.”

21 April 2008

The Witherslack Group, which provides quality education and care to children and young people with special needs, opens its eighth school this week in Bamber Bridge in Lancashire.

Cumberland School adds to the company’s growing portfolio in South Lancashire and will cater for secondary school pupils aged 11 to 16. This means the Group is now able to offer continuous education in the county for day and residential pupils from the age of 5 through to 19.

The conversion of the listed former primary school and church hall has created six classrooms, a science laboratory, ICT suite, design and technology and food technology rooms. The school site also includes a number of playing fields which will be used for sports and games.

Principal Martin Hayhurst was previously in post at the Group’s Westmorland School in Chorley which received an excellent Ofsted report in 2005.

Mr Hayhurst said:  “This is a huge boost for parents and provides continuity of specialist education for their children. Some of my former pupils at Westmorland School will be able to move here once they reach Year 7 and that’s great news in terms of their development. We look forward to welcoming the first day pupils to our new school.”  

Charles Mills, Group Development Director said: “The Witherslack Group has a proven record of delivering the very highest quality education and care for more than 300 children and young people across the country.   Our portfolio of schools is growing and this is the latest example of The Witherslack Group giving local authorities more choice, value for money and, perhaps most importantly, the provision of continuous, excellent education and care for their children and young people.”