Council to build new £25M school in Leominster

Herefordshire Council has announced it is to build a new secondary school following the award of a £25-million government grant.

The council’s cabinet is to discuss this week how Minster College, which has more than 700 students and serves the market town of Leominster, could be replaced with new premises under the government’s “Building Schools for the Future” programme.

Deputy leader and cabinet member for children and young people, Cllr Don Rule, said: “The funding provides an exciting opportunity to build a brand new secondary school for Leominster that will be fit for the 21st century and will inspire students, parents and staff”.

This summer, Herefordshire opened one of Europe’s greenest new schools, Whitecross High School and Specialist Sports College in Hereford, and announced that work on a new £8-million school to merge Hunderton infants and junior schools, also in Hereford, will go ahead.

Leominster’s Minister College was designated a specialist sports college in 2003 and has made good progress with its achievements and standards.

However, the physical condition of the school buildings is poor. A brand new school will be completed and occupied by 2009.

College principal, Richard North, is excited by the news.  “This is a superb boost to the students, staff, parents and governors of the college.

“It will provide an outstanding platform for education in the Leominster area with first-class facilities and a learning environment that will motivate students for generations to come.

“We look forward to the new opportunities that will come with this project to continue our aim of raising levels of achievement at the heart of our community.

“We will involve all members of the local school community in planning this exciting project,” added Cllr Rule.

“The funding enables Herefordshire not only to replace one of its worst-condition secondary schools with a brand new modern facility, but also to redesign the pattern of secondary education, providing greater opportunities for student involvement, and innovative teaching and learning approaches, in order to transform how the school serves Leominster for decades to come”. 

The new school will be open to a wide range of activities for the wider community, including activities for young people, family learning and parenting support.

It will make the widest use of new technology across the curriculum, promote healthy eating using fresh and seasonal ingredients, and will be designed for pupils with special educational needs.