A DISTRICT school is coming to the end of a major transformation that has seen pupils moved to entirely new facilities.

Samuel Lister Academy in Cottingley, the former Aire Valley School, is one of four schools in Bradford that has recently been re-built as part of the government’s Priority Schools Building Programme.

The programme will see the existing, dated school buildings at Samuel Lister, Belle Vue Boys School in Heaton, now Beckfoot Upper Heaton, Carlton Bolling College in Undercliffe and Oakbank School in Keighley demolished, replaced with new buildings and sports facilities. In West Yorkshire seven school re-build projects were funded, costing around £150 million.

The Telegraph & Argus was recently given a tour of the new Samuel Lister building, shortly after pupils moved in from the old building.

The new school is noticeably more spacious and bright, with many of the communal areas like the dining room and having high ceilings.

Lisa Barker, Vice Principal, said: “Pupils have responded so well to the new building. It is so much better. We worked really hard to get everything in place, so once pupils and staff moved in we really hit the ground running.

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“We consulted with students about various parts of the building’s design along the way.

“We broke ground on this new building in August 2015, so it took a year and a half for work on this building to be finished.

“It was amazing seeing it go up. It has ended up an amazing building. We think this schools is on one of the best sites in Bradford. From the top of this building you get a 360 degree view of the valley.”

Rachael James, HR and Facilities Manager, said: “It really is a totally different environment.”

One of the new building’s most striking facilities is its assembly hall, which also doubles as a theatre with retractable seating. Linked to this space is an area that can be used as a drama studio, making it ideal for school drama productions.

The school has recently had a close working relationship with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and this new facility makes any future productions or workshops that much easier.

Other vastly improved spaces include the schools classrooms for food technology and specialist science laboratories.

The improvement of the school’s sports facilities will also have a benefit for the local community - the state of the arty sports hall will be available for local groups, from sports team to ballet groups, to use outside of school hours.

Mrs James said: “It is much more accessible for those with disabilities.

“We’re really happy with the new sports facilities, areas like the changing rooms are much improved.”

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Demolition work is currently taking place on the old building, work that will continue throughout the summer months and should be completed by mid September.

Three new Multi Use Games Areas and an area for the provision of a future all weather pitch will be provided alongside additional trees and plants.

The school was placed in special measures by Ofsted last year, and is currently in the process of changing academy trusts, from Bradford College Educational Trust to Oasis Community Learning, in a bid to improve standards.