A NEW school has opened for children from right across the borough on the day pupils return to school across the region.

The Mo Mowlam Academy, which has specialist provision for children, has been built in Redcar opposite Redcar and Cleveland College on Corporation Road and means that more children will be educated closer to home.

Previously, more than 30 children in the borough with specialist needs had to be educated elsewhere.

The school replaces the Grangetown school which had specialist provision for children with a number of needs and was previously known as Pathways and had a limited capacity of 66 pupils. The new academy will be able to accommodate up to 100 primary and secondary school pupils.

State-of-the-art teaching spaces have been created along with specialist classrooms, a large hall, a soft play area and sensory calm rooms. In addition, the pupils will have access to extensive external areas including a multi-use games area, which was not available at the Grangetown facility. There are also new computers, desks and chairs.

The Mo Mowlam Academy is part of Horizons Specialist Academy Trust which provided the funding required to cover the installation of specialised doors, tinted glass, bespoke, interactive soft place and sensory areas, new furniture and IT equipment and CCTV.

Cabinet Member for Children, Councillor Alison Barnes, said: “This is a crucial development which will immediately improve the lives of children in our borough, especially those who previously had to travel some distance to get to school. It will also have a positive impact for many years to come. I would like to thank everyone involved.”

School Principal, Rachel Glover said: “This will directly help children and families for decades to come – it is very exciting. We look forward to working with all our partners and the community.”

Mark Gardham, Regional Director at Tilbury Douglas Construction, said: “We have been very proud to work on this project, which will provide greatly improved specialist facilities for students and an enhanced learning environment. Tilbury Douglas' appointment on this project is a real testament to the expertise within our regional team and our excellent track record in delivering some of the best education facilities in the UK. We wish the Trust and the school and, especially, all the children the very best."

Jacob Young, Conservative MP for Redcar, said: “This is fantastic news for children and families throughout Redcar and Cleveland.

"The improved facilities and enhanced learning environment on offer at The Mo Mowlam Academy will give children the very best start in life and will help families for many years to come. 

"I want to thank the Trust, the school, Redcar and Cleveland Council and everyone else involved in seeing this development through to completion."