Bulldozers move in on school

It was the end of an era for a Telford secondary school today after bulldozers moved on to the site.

Madeley Court School has been replaced by a £29 million academy just down the road.

The work to demolish the old school, which closed last summer, is expected to take about six weeks.

The nearby Madeley Court Leisure Centre is not affected by the demolition at this stage and remains open.

The old school was replaced by Madeley Academy, which opened in September, thanks to £2 million funding in sponsorship and £27 million of Government funding.

The new school includes a 350-seat theatre, a dance and drama studio, a sports hall with cricket lanes, a restaurant and an up-to-date music department.

The council will build the Abraham Darby Sports and Learning Community, which will incorporate Woodlands Primary School, on the existing Abraham Darby Academy site.

When this new sports and learning community is built then Madeley Court Leisure Centre will be demolished.

Russell Griffin, a spokesman for Telford & Wrekin Council, said: "We are currently demolishing the old school redundant building.

"We are expecting the work to take up to six weeks."

He said the Madeley Court School site was likely to be sold for residential development.

By Lisa Rowley