A SCHOOL which faced closure just weeks ago is planning for a bright future — and could even be in line for a multi-million pound revamp.

The headteacher of St George’s RC School in Walkden, Phil Harte, is drawing up plans for a rebuild, a wider curriculum and is working towards achieving specialist status in yet another subject.

Such plans have been on hold for more than three years while the school and the community staged a battle against controversial proposals to axe it.

Mr Harte said: “I am exhausted, but it has been done and dusted and it is a time to be positive and look forward to the opportunities available to the school.”

Salford Council wanted to close the school, attended by children from Bolton, Walkden and Little Hulton, as part of its £180 million Building Schools for the Future scheme to refurbish secondary schools in the borough. St George’s was the only school earmarked for closure.

Now it is set to form a different part of the scheme after education chiefs vetoed the council’s proposal.

Mr Harte said: “How St George’s RC school will become a part of Salford Council’s Building Schools for the Future has not been revealed yet but we want the school remodelled or rebuilt to improve the facilities so we can develop the curriculum.

“We have limited space in the school, the classrooms are outdated and need to be upgraded.

“These plans have had to be put on hold because who would want to invest in a school which the council wanted to close?”

The proposals were announced soon after the school became a specialist technology college.

Other plans included making the school “greener”, a reflection of Mr Harte’s background as a biologist.

He said those plans were now back on the agenda.

“We are going to do more and better. Pupils will be involved in the plans for the new school, because it is about them,” he explained.

“They will be given a voice. I am excited about the future of this school.”

Head girl Janine Renshaw, aged 15, added: “This school will get better and will continue to help more pupils in the future.”

Salford Council said a “review of options to ensure the city’s children get the best possible investment in new schools” is now under way.