Freebrough School opens on Tuesday

Pupils, staff and governors at Freebrough Specialist Engineering College will move into their new site in Brotton on Tuesday, January 9, following the culmination of a £16million project by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

The new 10,000 square metre building brings together 1,000 students from the school’s previous three sites in Brotton, Loftus and Skelton.

It is the sixth new school to open its doors in Redcar and Cleveland in the last 12 months. In November, Bydales Specialist Technology School in Marske, Gillbrook College in South Bank and Sacred Heart RC Specialist Science College in Redcar all moved into new buildings.

Last April, South Bank Community Primary and St Benedict’s RC Primary also moved into new buildings.

The Council's Cabinet Member for Education Councillor Steve Kay said: “The opening of the new Freebrough College marks the start of a new chapter in the delivery of excellent educational provision in East Cleveland.

"The new building brings first rate facilities for both students and local communities to ensure they have every opportunity to fulfil their goals.”

Built by HBG Construction and designed by Aedas architects, the new school includes eight hi-tech science laboratories, a modern design suite, state-of-the-art technology and engineering rooms, a music suite including a recording studio and art facilities with an outdoor balcony.

It boasts a range of facilities serving the local community including a sports hall, outdoor playing surfaces and The Fusion Youth and Community Centre, based within the new building. The school also houses a new joint school and public library, replacing the former High Street premises.

The new school has taken just 15 months to build and has been funded by the Council including funds from the sale of the school’s former Loftus and Skelton sites.

Its opening comes just a few weeks after Redcar and Cleveland was named as part of the national Building Schools for the Future programme which aims to rebuild and refurbish secondary schools.

Students will be phased into the new school by year group over the next few weeks and inducted into a range of new processes and facilities within the building. Formal opening ceremonies will take place at a later date.