A SCHOOL for children with special educational needs is set to turn a warehouse into a “hands-on” vocational training site as its plans pass.

Cumberland School has been granted planning permission to convert a unit at Rivington View Business Park into teaching rooms with a gym, common room and cafe.

The new centre will accommodate 46 students with 35 staff to support them.

Head teacher Christopher Newiss said the school is “delighted” about the decision by Bolton Council which was signed off on Friday, July 24.

He said: “The vocational centre will allow us to deliver a wide range of courses to equip each pupil with the skills and qualifications to step confidently into their chosen career and life beyond school.

“It is a really exciting development for everyone connected with Cumberland School and will allow us to continue to provide the very best education and support to all of our pupils.”

The day school in Rivington Lane, Blackrod provides education for children aged 11 to 16 with a variety of special educational needs.

The proposal is to split the facility, moving the older Key Stage 4 children in Years 10 and 11, to the new unit where they can study core subjects and undertake a wider vocational training programme, gaining a range of qualifications by the time they leave to help them achieve employment.

This will also free up space in the existing school which means the entry age can be lowered to include Key Stage 2 children in Years 5 and 6.

The unit was previously used by Medicina Ltd which used four separate buildings at Rivington View Business Park.

But the company now has too much space for its operational needs and can operate successfully from three buildings at the business park.

The landlords of the unit have also confirmed they will actively encourage other occupiers to engage with the school to create potential work experience opportunities for the young people to participate in, helping them to become “job ready” when they leave the school.

The new school site will operate in a “completely self-contained manner” that will have no impact upon the operations of the rest of the business park, according to the planning application.

Each child will spend all of their day permanently at one site or the other.

Planning officers concluded that the proposal would not have a detrimental impact and recommended the application for approval.