Construction firm scoops £2.5m contract to build sixth form facility

Esh Group has won a £2.5m contract with Calderdale Council to build a sixth form facility for Ravenscliffe High School in Halifax.

Ravenscliffe High School is Calderdale’s only secondary special needs school. The council said the new sixth form campus will help boost students’ education as the school, for pupils aged 11-19 with a range of special needs, has grown from 69 to 139.

The council-led project will create a two storey building that will provide state of the art facilities and a cafe for students. It will be built on land provided by the council at Spring Hall, close to Halifax town centre.

Calderdale Council launched the project, investing £1.6m, while other funds have been contributed by the school, supporters and Sport England.

Headteacher Martin Moorman said: “This facility will provide a purpose-built centre that allows both the community of young people with special needs who attend Ravenscliffe, as well as the wider Calderdale community of all ages, to access a fantastic trackside resource.

“It will provide Ravenscliffe students with opportunities to develop their work and life skills in a brand new adapted building. The centrality of the Ravenscliffe@SpringHall development makes it a perfect new resource for the people of Calderdale.”

Stuart Leslie, divisional director at Esh, said: “Ravenscliffe school is an essential part of the community. The new sixth form centre will help it support older students into the workplace and develop valuable life skills.”