STUDENTS at an ‘outstanding’ Oswaldtwistle school are set to benefit from new classrooms.

Broadfield Specialist School, in Fielding Lane, will demolish temporary buildings that have housed 16 to 19-year-old further education pupils since 2011.

The block was only planned for use for two to three years ahead of a planned move as part of a merger with Hollins Technology College.

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However, the move was scrapped after Labour lost the last election and the school, and the temporary buildings, remained.

In a design and access statement lodged with Hyndburn Council, the county council said it wants to replace the leaky building with four purpose-built classrooms.

It said: “While outwardly presentable, the temporary buildings require constant maintenance to the fabric and in particular the roofs and floors, which are subject to problems associated with water ingress.

“Heating in the building is by a series of wall-mounted convection heaters which have proven unreliable and difficult to control.”

The new building, set to house around 31 students, will be built on site but in a different location to avoid sending the youngsters to school elsewhere while the work is being carried out.

Toilets, a storage room, an office, and a plant room are also planned as part of the block, which is set to measure around 350 square metres, slightly larger than the current temporary building.

The council said: “It must be stressed however this is not an expansion of the school.

“The slight increase in size is justified by utilising the opportunity of the development to included much needed compliant hygiene and sanitary facilities with associated hoists and lifting gear, in addition to interchanging the four classrooms.”

In February, staff and students at Broadfield were praised after Ofsted gave it the best possible mark.