New School
Construction of the replacement Boldon School – which will offer unparalleled learning opportunities for students and the wider community alike – started on Tuesday, 03 May 2005 and completed September 2006.
The 1,050-pupil school boasts a four-lane swimming pool and a 200-seat theatre. It was built with £17.5m of Private Finance Initiative cash.
 Councillor Jim Foreman, South Tyneside Council’s Lead Member, Lifelong Learning and Leisure, said: “The start of work on the new Boldon School is incredibly exciting. It is another step forward in realising our vision of building schools for the future throughout the borough and giving young people the best chances in life.
“The new development will produce an outstanding educational environment for the 21st Century and will significantly enhance the school’s reputation for sporting excellence.
”We are providing excellent new facilities which will benefit the whole community. As well as the 25m swimming pool, there will be a 594 sq metre sports hall – about the size of four badminton courts - a gymnasium, sauna and fitness room.
“The 200-seat theatre will be provided with a state-of-the-art lighting and sound system. All these facilities will be available to the public in the evenings and at weekends as part of our aim to open up schools to people of all ages, placing our learning centre's at the heart of our communities and making South Tyneside a place where learning is never over.”
The playing fields will also be upgraded with improved drainage to the sports pitches and a new floodlit all-weather football pitch and multi-use games area.
Head teacher Colin Whitfield said: “Everyone at Boldon School is thrilled that our new building is beginning the construction phase. We have gone through a long process which will result in a wonderful, superbly equipped building providing pupils with a state of the art education. This building heralds the start of an exciting new era for Boldon.”
 Gleeson Construction Services Limited of Tyneside has been chosen by the Council to build the development.
Bill Law, Regional Director, Gleeson North East, said: “We are extremely pleased to be working with South Tyneside Council on the new Boldon School.
“We are resolved to ensure that the entire process delivers a teaching facility for South Tyneside which is second to none, and one of which everyone involved, including staff and pupils, will be justifiably proud.
“This project will be the third major education facility Gleeson have built in the North East, following the successful completion of Blyth Community College and the Unity City Academy in Middlesborough.
“While the Blyth project has probably been our most profiled project nationally, appearing in virtually every Building Schools for the Future publication, we are determined that Boldon will be even better in every respect.”
The new school will be built on 11,500 sq metres - about the size of four football pitches - between the existing Community Centre and the River Don to the south side of New Road, Boldon Colliery.
The existing school premises will then be demolished to make way for a new housing development combining affordable housing and larger detached properties.
 The new school building has been designed to the highest standards both in terms of layout, and material specification. Features include a modern dining facility, and there are also ‘breakout spaces’ along circulation routes which replace traditional school corridors to instil a feeling of space within the building.
To the rear of the building a new and secure playground area will be created which will be zoned to form separate areas for year groups to mingle.
The Gleeson team comprises architects Waring & Netts; structural and mechanical engineers White Young Green; education advisors E.C. Harris; and facility managers Mitie.
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