THE first phase of a £1.2 million refurbishment has been unveiled at Edge End High School.

It is the first major repair work carried out at the original 1933 Nelson Technical High School building since it was built. 10 classrooms have been refurbished and seven of them enlarged, while the whole area has been re-wired and a new heating system, including boilers, installed.

The entrance area has been modified but kept to its original character using oak and the building has been carpeted throughout.

Two of the classrooms now have permanent interactive whiteboards, one for the use of the English department and the other for the maths department, and the whole building will soon be completely accessible to people in wheelchairs.

Headteacher Martin Burgess said: "It was a little disappointing not to have the whole refurbishment open for the first open evening last Tuesday but it will be in full use for the second open evening next Tuesday. I look forward with eager anticipation to the next two phases which would restore the rest of the school.

"Staff at the school have taught in circumstances above and beyond the call of duty during the last few months. It was fascinating, however, that although the English and Maths department had taught in the temporary classrooms, which are to an office design, they had actually achieved the highest KS3 results ever.

"The English results in particular are above the national average for the percentage of pupils at level five or above. One student, Zaberjad Iftikhar, had even attained an exceptional performance grade.

"The teachers who taught in these offices deserve a medal. However, now that they are in this new accommodation I am expecting miracles."

The school opened in 1932 as Edge End Senior Boys' Council School and catered for pupils who did not pass the 11-plus but did not wish to go to the local secondary modern school. When education was reorganised in the mid-1970s the school became Edge End High School and became a comprehensive school. In recent times, it has undergone considerable refurbishment, including the installation of new science laboratories and purpose-built art and music rooms.

The next two phases of the on-going work will bring the remaining sections of the school up to the same standard as those unveiled this week.