ST Wilfrid's CE High School, Blackburn, is undertaking a £13million redevelopment. It is on schedule and the 1,600 pupils are now in two-thirds of the buildings.

But, as headteacher David Whyte explains to SIMON HAWORTH, the toughest part could be yet to come. . .

THE daily exchange of sites for pupils has been a worry for headteacher David Whyte for the 14 years he has taught there.

The school, has always had to do its best to achieve in unsuitable and old facilities on separate sites.

Pupils are regularly seen by motorists walking from the main site in Duckworth Street along Bank Top to the lower school on Byrom Street. But soon that daily exodus, where pupils are put at risk so close to a busy road, will end.

The £13million project, started in December 2001, is due to be finished in January 2004.

It will mean the entire school is on one site and pupils will be able to get to every classroom through internal corridors.

Not only will it be beneficial for pupils and create peace of mind for teachers and parents alike, but it will also feature unrivalled community facilities for Blackburn such as a new theatre, computer technology rooms and a dance room.

The children now have science rooms, a new gym and astroturf pitch, a new centre for the 180 sixth-formers and elegant outdoor communal areas.

Mr Whyte, who had a large amount of input into the design of the new school, cannot hide his enthusiasm for how the project is progressing.

He said: "We have always said that we have had the best results in and around but not had the facilities. Soon we will have the facilities to match.

The most difficult part for the pupils and teachers could be yet to come with a brick-by-brick demolition of a late-19th century mill -- which formed the core of the old school.

Mr Whyte has nothing but praise for the way the pupils have handled the inconvenience so far.

He said: "I feel the last phase of demolishing the mill will probably be the most disruptive.

"In that phase there will be an awful lot of ground work, which will be dirty with children bringing mud into school.

"But the kids have been tremendous really. I think a very strict discipline regime and very good behaviour have helped.

"If it had been a different regime it would have been very difficult to manage the situation.

"We have to bear with it for a little bit longer, but it will be worth it in the end."