FORMER pupils of a secondary school in Cleckheaton will be able to say a final farewell to the old building on Saturday ahead of it being demolished later this year.

Whitcliffe Mount School is being replaced as part of a multi-million pound project and work on the main teaching block next to the current school building is almost complete.

Once finished the three-storey teaching block and sports hall will be used by the school’s 1,250 pupils from September, making way for the old building to be razed to the ground.

So the school has organised an open day to mark the end of this chapter in its history, allowing past pupils and local residents a chance to rekindle some of those old memories.

There will also be a chance to learn about the new school building, which is currently being fitted out, ahead of its opening after the school summer holidays.

MORE EDUCATION HEADLINES

Head teacher Jennifer Templar said: “We look forward to welcoming the community into school to rekindle some fantastic memories of their time at Whitcliffe.

“We are excited about moving, however we will leave behind many happy memories. Our new facilities will be available to the community once we have settled in.”

Demolition began last summer on the old sports centre next to the current school building, after it was closed down despite a campaign from users. That part of the site was cleared to make way for the new three-storey teaching block - allowing the main school to stay open during the construction phase.

A separate sports block has also been built alongside the new teaching block. The scheme is part of a project to replace seven schools in Yorkshire in a £150m deal under the Government’s priority school building programme.

Once the old school building is demolished and a new school car park created, a multi-use games area will be built. This is all expected to be completed in April next year.

MORE TOP STORIES

The open day event is being held on Saturday, July 1, at the school in Turnsteads Avenue, from 10am to 2pm.

People will be able to tour the old building, view memorabilia, and visit a viewing area for the new school buildings. There will also be a special school shop set up for the event and a cake sale raising funds for the Jo Cox Foundation, in memory of the murdered MP, who visited the school on a number of occasions.