AN “outstanding” school that has waited five years to move its students from temporary classrooms has officially unveiled a new permanent college building.

The Broadfield College building in Oswaldtwistle will provide further education for young people with special educational needs.

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Part of Broadfield Specialist School in Fielding Lane, the building has been constructed to meet the individual needs of students aged between 16 and 19.

The official opening was carried out on Wednesday by the chairman of Lancashire County Council Cllr Janice Hanson.

The school caters for young people aged from 11 to 19 years old with a wide range of special educational needs.

It has provided further education from two temporary buildings since 2011 and a new purpose-built centre has replaced that provision.

The most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2015, judged the school to be “outstanding”.

County Councillor Hanson said: “The college is a wonderful new building and I feel very proud to open it.

“It gives the older pupils extra space in a more mature environment.

“Staff are able to better support the young people to develop the skills they’ll need in their adult life.”

The building, which can house up to 40 students, was constructed for £771,000, provided by the council.

The school was re-organised in 2011 from an all-age special school, and amalgamated with White Ash and North Cliffe special schools.

Staff and students from both White Ash and North Cliffe joined Broadfield Specialist School, and North Cliffe closed as part of the amalgamation. The school planned to have a new further education building, and to be co-located with the Hollins Technology College in Accrington, but the plan fell through.

County Councillor Matthew Tomlinson, cabinet member for children, young people and schools, who attended the opening ceremony, said: “This new building is hugely impressive.

“It will increase the opportunities and experiences that can be offered to the young people, both in terms of the actual curriculum and their wellbeing and comfort.”

The new building will be managed by the county council, who also funded the construction.

The building was designed in-house by the county council’s design and construction team.