BLACKBURN is to get a new independent junior school for boys.

Westholme School -- which educates 750 girls aged 11 to 18 at its main site in Meins Road -- will initially take in about 25 boys aged seven at its smaller junior girls' base in Beardwood Bank, Preston New Road, from September 2003.

Eventually, Westholme School for Boys -- as it will be known -- will have five classes catering for around 100 boys from seven to 11.

Headteacher Lilian Croston said the the new male intake will share some facilities with the junior girls but will be taught separately. Old classrooms in a former cottage at Beardwood Bank will be refurbished and re-equipped at a cost of £100,000.

She added: "We are responding to the wishes of parents who already have girls with us who want us to provide the same level of single-sex education for their sons.

"We find that when they reach the age of seven, girls work better in the company other girls.

"It's the same for boys. They all do better when they can work without distractions -- as the league tables show each year."

Westholme already teaches boys aged three to seven in its infants' section in Billinge House, Preston New Road.

Mrs Croston said she could not speculate on whether Westholme would eventually seek to teach senior boys.

The head of the new junior boys' school will be Angus Macnab, a senior member of staff at the girls' senior base in Meins Road. He is a graduate in biochemistry and a keen sportsman and musician.

He said: "What we are building is a school which really caters for boys' needs, providing single-sex education with opportunities for boys and girls to mix socially." Beardwood Bank already has two school halls, a computer suite and library and caters for 200 girls aged seven to 11.

Work started recently on a new £2million sixth-form centre at Meins Road to cope with an increasing number of students who want to take A and As-level courses.

It will include a lecture theatre, conference room, four tutorial rooms, five classrooms and a common room.

Dr David Hempsall, headmaster at Blackburn's other independent school, Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in East Park Road, said: "Our successful move to a fully co-education entry, offering the benefits of a QEGS education to boys and girls from four through to 18, was encouraged by the number of parents who told me they would prefer their sons and daughters to be educated together.

"Westholme's announcement does mean the extension of choice, which, whether in the state or independent sector, is surely a good thing for parents."

Westholme charges fees of £1,220 in the infants' school; £1,370 in the middle school; and £1,701 in the senior school.

Former high-achieving former pupils include Dr Sarah Vause, renowned consultant obstetrician gynaecologist, Rebecca Loudonsack, actress in top TV soap Emmerdale, Wendy Ellis, former principal dancer with The Royal Ballet Company and Sue Whittaker, European badminton champion.