A BURNLEY free school is set to expand ahead of September after plans to move to a new site suffered a setback.

Burnley High School had planned to relocate to the former Habergham High School site from its current base at Parkhill Business Centre ahead of the new school year.

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However, the proposed move will not be made in time because of recently discovered deterioration of a concrete slab under the former school which covers a mine shaft.

After a survey of the site in November came across the poor condition of the slab, Burnley High School bosses hurried to put together an alternative plan, put to more than 100 parents on Monday night.

The school, which is housed in half of a business centre in Padiham Road, will expand into half of the disused section of the building, creating four new classrooms, a science lab and showers.

Sports fields are to be made available at the Habergham site and indoor sports and technology classes will be staged at the University Technical College in Trafalgar Street.

The hard-standing play area and green space at the business centre will also be expanded by September.

The school, which is run by Chapel Street family of schools, has also said that it add 90 more children to its roster in the new school year to its current 33.

Executive principal Elizabeth Haddock said that six new teachers will join the school and that all of the new children will join from Padiham following 140 applications.

Head of school Dawn Forshaw said: “We are disappointed by the delay to the building work at our Habergham site.

“However, I am pleased that we have been able to secure additional space at Parkhill for the remainder of our time here.”

“This will allow us to upgrade the facilities that we can offer to our pupils.

“I am grateful to our parents who have been wonderfully supportive.”

Mrs Haddock said: “We are delighted that the principal of UTC, Martin Callagher, is happy to partner with our school.

“This partnership will bring technology to life through projects delivered by their highly-skilled staff using their state-of-the-art facilities.

“In addition, they are going to let us use their new sports hall so that our staff can deliver high-quality PE.”

The funding for the alterations to the business centre will be provided by the Educational Funding Agency but a full amount has not been disclosed.

Burnley councillor Charles Briggs, who also serves as one of the school’s governors, said: “I have been here a few times and I have never seen so many children coming to school with smiles on their faces.

“These plans will improve the education that is given to the kids here.”