Halifax's new Sixth Form Centre due to open in September 2020
As a parent of older children, who have gone through the school system in Upper Calderdale, I know that this news is bound to be a relief for many families with children looking into Post 16 options.
Todmorden lost its sixth form in 2017 as more pupils went to the much larger colleges in Burnley and Rochdale. Then Calder High had to close its sixth form in 2018 leaving Post 16 pupils no option but to travel long distances each day, mainly to Burnley, Rochdale or Huddersfield as Halifax didn't have a sixth form college.
But now, Coronavirus notwithstanding, Calderdale’s brand new, state-of-the-art sixth form centre at the heart of Halifax is complete and ready to welcome its first students in September 2020.
The completion of Calderdale Council’s multi-million-pound construction project marks the start of an exciting new era for learning in Calderdale, and a major milestone in the borough’s wider regeneration. The scale of the building’s transformation is incredible. The Central Library which previously occupied the town centre site has been completely reimagined into the stunning, modern Trinity Sixth Form Academy, whilst conserving and restoring some original features.
Key features of the Trinity Sixth Form Academy building, which has been designed to be inclusive, include striking new zinc cladding and restoration of the existing stonework; a beautiful new atrium extending from the ground floor right up to the roof, allowing natural light to flood in; large, distinctive windows with solar-control glass; and a complete repurposing of the indoor space, with a university-style study centre, impressive classrooms providing specialist facilities, a multi-use hall and performance space, and an on-site café and social space.
The building has been carefully designed to be ‘green’ and sustainable to help tackle the climate emergency and provide a healthy and energy-efficient learning environment. It is naturally ventilated and bright due to lots of natural daylight, has new insulation, low-energy LED lighting and great public transport links, and the zinc cladding is 100% recyclable.
The Council will hand over the completed sixth form centre to Trinity Multi-Academy Trust in summer 2020. In total, 600 sixth form students are due to start using the new building in September 2020.
Cllr Jane Scullion, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Resources, said:
“The completed sixth form centre is an extraordinary example of regeneration. It has given the former library building an exciting new lease of life and is part of a whole range of plans to revitalise our town centres to boost the economy.
“It’s really quite a remarkable achievement to reach completion in just 18 months, especially with the added challenges of an exceptionally wet winter and the COVID-19 pandemic. This is thanks to a phenomenal amount of partnership work.”
Cllr Adam Wilkinson, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, added:
“We are proud that Calderdale now has its very own sixth form centre, and we couldn’t be more impressed with the top-quality design and construction work. It was really important to us to base this facility in the heart of the town centre, rather than at an out-of-town campus, to benefit students, teachers and local businesses."
For more information about the Trinity Sixth Form Academy project visit http://calderdalenextchapter.co.uk/projects/halifax-northgate-house or watch this short film.