A BURY headteacher has made an impassioned plea for Derby High School to be given the opportunity to design and construct the first purpose-built Science and Arts College in the country.

Mrs Alyson Byrne says such an undertaking would bring benefits to Bury and the local community and allow the Derby to realise its full potential.

During her speech at the school's lower prizegiving ceremony, she told the audience: "At last year's prizegiving, I was proud to announce the award of the £20 million under BSF (Building Schools for the Future) to build a new school. Now, this decision is on hold. But why? We are a popular school and, even with falling rolls across the borough, we are full for September with some parents still waiting for the outcome of appeals.

"All around us, in Salford, Oldham, Rochdale, Manchester and Burnley, we see ambitious plans turning into reality. The time is right for this school to realise its full potential."

Mrs Byrne continued: "We have a vision - a vision that fits like a hand in a glove with the national educational policy of all persuasions. And we have a tremendous staff, good governance, confident leadership and the best site anyone could wish for.

"We deserve the opportunity to design and build the first purpose-built Science and Arts College in the country and one that significantly advantages the local community around us. Do we expect too much? Do we set our heights too high? No. Rather, we expect what is only just and proper for this school, for our children, for this community."

The headteacher's comments came in the wake of a Bury Council review of high school provision in the borough, because of projected falling school rolls over the next decade. Leaders needed to know how many schools would be required in Bury before they decided where to spend the BSF money. They eventually proposed the closure of Broad Oak and Prestwich High schools, but this was overturned by the independent Schools Organisation Committee, which effectively put the plans back to square one.

At one point, it was proposed that the Derby be merged with Broad Oak, and a new school built in a different location.