A HIGH school in Waterfoot is hoping to raise £1million to pay for a new sports hall.

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, in Glen Road, today announced it will attempt to raise the money to replace its gymnasium, which provides only limited facilities.

More than £600,000 has already been pledged by private sponsors for the new facility, which will have a three-storey classroom development attached to it.

An appeal is likely to be made to parents and the wider community in about a month's time.

More expansion is also on the horizon for the school as plans were put forward this week for three portable classrooms to give sixth-formers more space.

Headteacher Martyn Morris said the school sports hall would not be eligible for grants, as it would not be open to the public because of access limitations.

The school, a non-fee-paying foundation school with an entrance exam for 11-year-olds, has grown dramatically over the years and Mr Morris said some changes were needed.

Pupil numbers in the sixth form have expanded from 160 to 500 in 15 years and in the school from 850 to 1,200.

The school has technology college status. Mr Morris was appointed in April 1988.

He said: "We have already secured £670,000 from private sponsors, which we are not able to reveal at present.

"We are really grateful for this money, but in about a month's time we will be turning to parents and the community for donations.

"We will be holding various fund-raising events to try to raise the money. The sports hall would be of a Schools England standard, with four badminton courts and a three-storey classroom development attached to it.

"These are very exciting times for the school.

"The portable classrooms will be used for the sixth form because we are finding it difficult to house the ever-expanding number of pupils.

"We are hoping the classrooms will be in place for September and hopefully, the plan is that while we are in the classrooms, new ones will be built.

"The final plans are currently being put together."

The planning application for the classrooms will be discussed at next month's development control meeting.