A NEW secondary school being created in Blackburn has been officially named.

Blackburn Central High School is being created through an amalgamation of Blakewater College, Crosshill School and Beardwood Humanities College.

It is being built off Haslingden Road, under the Building Schools for the Future scheme.

Until the official name unveiling ceremony the school has been known as the new East Blackburn school.

The name was revealed as part of a steel signing event at the site.

The steel signing marks a key milestone in the construction of the new school, which will be completed by September next year.

Blakewater and Crosshill are both due to relocate to the new site. Beardwood High School is due to close in 2012 and approximately 100 of their Year 10 pupils will be joining the new school ahead of their final GCSE years.

Councillor Maureen Bateson, executive member for children’s services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “I was here at the beginning when we were looking at where we wanted to build the new school and for me, this was the only site I wanted.

“The children are going to have a fantastic school and the community will have a fantastic facility.”