THIS image shows the multi-million pound transformation of the old Hayward School campus into a primary.

Plans have been put forward to develop a permanent home for Bolton’s newest primary school, Essa Free School, which opened at the start of the academic year.

Subject to planning approval, the old school buildings in Great Lever will be refurbished and there will be a new build to create the £2.4 million school.

Headteacher Jo Wood said: “We are very excited about the development of our new building by ISG.

“The design process has been very thorough and will facilitate excellent educational provision for our children in line with our creative, challenge-based curriculum.”

Children are currently based on campus in a building, which over the summer was transformed to create a primary school environment for years one and two classes, together with a play area outside.

Poorly performing Hayward School shut and Essa Academy opened in its place, becoming the borough first state-funded independent school.

A new purpose-built building for the academy opened shortly after and now the old site will be revamped to form a primary school campus.

Essa Free School opened with 90 children last month after being put forward by Essa Foundation Academies Trust — transforming Essa Academy into Bolton’s second super school, educating children from primary through to secondary school.

This will, say school bosses, aid transition from primary to secondary and create an “Essa Family”.

It will have the capacity to educate 420 young people from the local area.

As is the case with the secondary school, learning in the primary school will be enhanced through the use of mobile technology such as iPads.

Free schools are new independent state-funded schools that can be set up by groups of teachers, charities, parents, existing schools or other organisations to respond to a need for a new school.

In this case it was due to an increase in demand for primary school places in the locality.