More Salford families will be able to send their children to a “popular” high school with a good Ofsted rating, thanks to a £6 million expansion project.
Ellesmere Park High School in Eccles is undergoing a multi-million-pound extension which will see dining facilities, classrooms, ICT suites and SEND spaces built to accommodate a growing number of students.
To mark the exciting milestone in the school’s future, pupils created and buried a time capsule on the construction site, which they hope will reveal a snapshot of their student lives in years to come.
A specially produced student-written poetry book and newspaper cutouts were among the items chosen to be preserved for future generations.
Returning to the former site of Wentworth High School, where he was Head Boy, Worsley and Eccles MP Michael Wheeler said the development would make a “real difference” to the education of children in his constituency.
He explained that parents whose children are not directly admitted into the school often contact him to help with the appeals process.
“Parents care about their kids and they want them to get the best possible education,” the Labour MP said.
“At a certain time of year when people don’t get into their first-choice schools, there are appeals and parents reach out to me to see what we can do to help support them through that process. So having more places will absolutely make a difference here.”
The burial coincides with significant development works that will transform the school’s facilities and learning environment. The expansion includes a new extension connected to the existing building.
The new ground floor will house expanded dining facilities, a new student services area, enhanced SEN provision, a new servery, and two new toilet blocks.
Meanwhile, the first floor will accommodate three new art classrooms and two ICT rooms and one maths classroom will be built on the second floor.
In addition, temporary classroom provision will be introduced from September 2026 to support continued learning during the construction phase.
The project also involves remodelling parts of the existing school, including the relocation of the dark room, the creation of two new science laboratories, a new ICT suite, a maths classroom, and a new staff office.
Joel Thornton, Chief Operating Officer at Consilium Academies, the trust operating the Salford school, said: “This time capsule captures a moment in the school’s journey and gives our students a powerful sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves. As we invest in the future of Ellesmere Park High School through this £6 million development, it is fitting that our students have played a key role in leaving a legacy for future generations to discover.”
Salford Mayor Paul Dennett, dressed in a hard hat and a high-vis jacket on the building site, acknowledged that the city is developing rapidly and said that school provision must keep up with growing demand.
“Now really is Salford’s time and much of our school provision does need to keep pace with that growing population and that growing city. So this is really important, both in terms of supporting families but also supporting the growing population here in the City of Salford.
“We all know the importance of educational facilities, learning environments and making sure that they’re up to scratch in terms of meeting the needs of children and young people really does have an impact on children and young people.
“That’s not just with regards to their educational attainment but also their commitment to the whole process of education and learning.”
A spokesperson from Equans, the construction partner delivering the project, added: “We are proud to be working alongside Ellesmere Park High School and Consilium Academies on this transformative scheme.
“Seeing students actively involved in marking the development through the time capsule has been a real highlight. This project will provide modern, high-quality facilities that will benefit students and staff for many years to come.”
“The time capsule will remain buried within the school grounds, to be opened by future generations, offering a unique glimpse into school life during a period of exciting change and growth.”
After a group of smiling students had buried the time capsule, Mr Wheeler reminisced about the impact Wentworth had on his life and career prospects.
“It was a wonderful school and I have really good memories. I’ve made lifelong friends there that I’m still in touch with and it was absolutely at the heart of the community.”
He hopes the Ellesmere Park High School expansion will allow more people in the area to have similar positive experiences on a site he remembers fondly.
