Radcliffe's new school taking shape as town gets new school

Images taken this week show the rapid pace of the work with a new link road and other infrastructure being built. Crucially, the steel outer structure of the long awaited permanent school building can clearly be seen emerging at the rear of the site.

In September 2024, Star Academy welcomed its first cohort of 150 Year 7 pupils, albeit in well equipped temporary buildings. Parents were previously told the permanent school building would be completed by this summer.

But delays meant both existing pupils and a second cohort would be taught in additional temporary blocks at the school from September 2025. The permanent school building is now set to open before the end of the 2025/26 academic year.

Eventually, the 750-place secondary school for 11-16 year olds will admit a new Year 7 intake each year, reaching full capacity with pupils in all year groups in September 2028. The school has been welcomed eagerly by the community in Radcliffe, a town which has been without its own secondary school since the closure of Radcliffe Riverside High School in 2014.

That meant hundreds of youngsters travelling outside the Radcliffe to be educated in nearby towns including Whitefield and Bury.

Katie McCluney, 28, said the new school ‘couldn’t come soon enough’.

She said: “My eldest boy will be starting there in September. “We’ve been to visit and it looks good.

“It won’t be long until the permanent school is ready and I’m sure it will be good.”

Work began on the site in early April, overseen by Morgan Sindall Construction and by the look of the current images progress has been swift. The permanent building will be a three-storey, 6,000m² building, arranged as a ‘superblock’, with extensive external works and sports provision including a new access road and drop off area.

Pupils, staff and guests recently took part in celebrations as the work began.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held to mark the start with Morgan Sindall staff joined by representatives from the Department for Education, Bury Council and Star Academies.

During the pre-construction phase, Morgan Sindall used its ‘Intelligent Solutions’ approach to tackle challenges posed by the site’s former coal mining history, mitigating risks of subsidence and contamination. The foundation design has ground stabilisation and vibro piling to ensure a stable base.

Designed to be net zero in operation , the school will feature energy-efficient design, renewable energy generation and low-carbon technologies. Steven Gregory, area director for the North West, Morgan Sindall, said: “We’re thrilled to deliver what will be an important new school for Radcliffe and the

surrounding areas.

“As a community minded business, we’re helping to address the vital issue of school places while building a new school that is both highly sustainable and a high-quality learning environment for local students. “As part of our delivery of this project, we look forward to undertaking social value initiatives that enhance the local community, ensuring the Star Radcliffe Academy will benefit the area long before completion.”

Coun Lucy Smith, deputy leader of Bury Council, said: “We are pleased to celebrate the start of construction on the new Star Radcliffe Academy building. We have been fighting for a long time for a new school for Radcliffe and I am so proud to be here at this groundbreaking. This is a key part of the ongoing multi-million-pound regeneration of Radcliffe and will contribute significantly to the area.

“The academy has already proved a popular choice among local families and will provide much-needed high school places with excellent facilities, giving our young people the opportunity to thrive.” Paul Johnson, principal at Star Radcliffe Academy, said: “We are delighted with the pace at which construction is progressing on our permanent home and it is incredibly exciting to see our vision for Star Radcliffe Academy becoming a reality.

“The new building will provide an exceptional learning environment for our pupils, equipped with modern classrooms, cutting-edge technology, and excellent sports and recreational facilities. These resources will not only enhance our pupils’ education but also provide a wealth of opportunities for personal development, enrichment and future success.

“We’re looking forward to moving into our state-of-the-art facilities by September 2026, and establishing the school as a beacon of the community for today’s young people and future generations.”

Morgan Sindall recently completed work at Pear Tree Academy, a new SEND school in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport and is currently on site at Dixons Newall Green Academy in Wythenshawe and Newhouse Academy in Rochdale.