Wigan moves to relocate, rebuild SEND primary school

Rowan Tree Primary School has “significantly exceeded its design life” according to the council, which noted that the Atherton building’s timber frame is beginning to rot at the base.

Wigan Council voted at a cabinet meeting last week to begin the process of building a new school for the 117 SEND students who study at Rowen Tree Primary.

This new building would sit on the vacant site of the former Our Lady of the Rosary RC School off Heath Lane in Leigh.

It would be purpose-designed to achieve net zero carbon in operation, according to the council. The new school would also be bigger than its predecessor, with the capacity to teach 154 students. This would be in line with growing demand for SEND places.

The Department for Education has already agreed to deliver the project through its Schools Rebuilding Programme. Wigan will release £4m of capital funding as its contribution to the project.

Wigan will retain Rowan Tree Primary’s current site at Green Hall Close in Atherton, according to the cabinet report.

The next step will be a formal consultation on the plans, which will be subject to planning approval.