Independent residential school opens in Bentham (From Craven Herald)

Independent residential school opens in Bentham

10:20am Sunday 19th February 2012 in Local news

One of Bentham’s landmark buildings has been given a £1.8 million facelift and has reopened as an independent residential school.

Cedar House School is located at the former grammar school site which had been empty for three years. The buildings, some dating back to 1884, have been completely refurbished to provide day schooling and residential care for children with special educational needs.

The school has new kitchens, library, science block and three “houses” with bedrooms, lounges and kitchens for youngsters and staff. It also has 13 acres of land, with sports hall, football pitch and a stretch of river where students have the right to fish.

Whittington-based Fred Hall & Son carried out all the building and renovation work on the grade two listed property, originally constructed as a rectory.

The firm had just 10 months to carry out the extensive works — and it came across some unexpected problems along the way, including a colony of whiskered and pipistrelle bats which had to remain undisturbed while they put a new roof on the building. To meet the deadline they employed an additional five staff and worked closely with Erica Wright, of Kirkby Lonsdale-based architects Wright Design Partner-ship.

Cedar House School — which caters for boys and girls between the ages of seven and 16 — was based in Kirkby Lonsdale for more than 35 years before moving to Bentham. Head teacher Gillian Ridgway said: “We are delighted with our new premises. They provide the pupils with an extensive range of purpose-built educational and residential provisions which supports our ‘outstanding’ delivery to a diverse group of children with complex needs.”