A BURY headteacher has spoken about the exciting challenge and the opportunity ahead to create a new Derby High School as it approaches its 50th anniversary.

At the school’s presentation evening held at Bury Town Hall, Mrs Alyson Byrne spoke in detail about the recent proposals involving the building of a new ‘Derby’ on the former East Lancs Paper Mill site in Radcliffe, where the new Riverside school was scheduled to be built.

Riverside would either be closed as a separate entity or amalgamated with Derby to create a school with specialist status in science, arts and engineering.

The headteacher of the Radcliffe Road school told the audience: “Now, as we enter our 50th anniversary year we have a challenge and a tremendous opportunity to create, as the Bury Times puts it, the ‘new’ Derby.

“Our landmark building has served us well for many years — it’s comfortable, it’s proved quite adaptable and we are constantly improving to meet the demands of present day education.

“But that’s expensive. This summer we spent £200,000 on upgrading the toilets, refurbishing the library, creating a dance studio.

“But we are at the limit of what we can do. Every nook and cranny has been utilised for something. Everybody has to work that little bit harder — it is hard to reach the national finals if you’re the only school in Bury without a sports hall.”

Mrs Byrne continued: “But now we have the opportunity for a ‘new Derby’, one that will serve future generations for many years to come. Yes, we are fond of our building, but it simply doesn’t have that future capacity that we need.

“Yes, the proposal if accepted will involve relocating to a new site, but it’s a large expansive site only four minutes drive away and accessible for our community which embraces Redvales, Bury East, Walmersley and Radcliffe.

“And it will be a bigger school — the first science, arts and engineering school in the country. Isn’t that exciting?

“The new Derby must be part of the Bury family of schools and must be within the domain of Bury LEA. It must also retain that all important ethos that has served the school so well for so many years. And this new school must succeed.”

In her address, Mrs Byrne also made reference to Derby’s examinations success. “This is the third time in four years I have announced the school’s best ever results,” she went on.

“The DCSE judges schools on the progress learners make from when they join in year seven to their final examinations in year 11. This is called ‘value added.’ “Our percentile ranking on this measure places the school in the top eight per cent against all maintained schools nationally. In terms of A*-G grades, we are in the top two per cent of all schools nationally.”

Guest of honour at the presentation evening was former principal of Holy Cross College, Mr Mike O’Hare.