To amend or update
information on this page,
click here to
e-mail to RC-Churches

In January 1957 a scheme was submitted to the local authority to modernise the premises and extend the classrooms.

Much of the building work was completed in time for occupation in September 1959. In addition to extending the classrooms, two rooms were converted into am assembly hall and replaced by two new classrooms with other works including a staffroom.

Later, the Managers considered the possibility of transferring the school to a new site since it was impossible to extend the existing site.

Mr Peter McGargle became Head Master in September 1963, a post he held for the next nine years.
Numbers of children continued to rise and the Chairman, Father Enright put forward the new proposal of a new site on ground adjoining the church be considered.

Due to the circumstances, temporary arrangements meant the using of the parish guildhall as a school hall, the dining room in the presbytery as a classroom and one class be accommodated in the Convent Junior School.

In April 1970, three temporary classrooms at an estimated cost of £9,000 were erected and made ready for use in November 1970, being blessed by Bishop Worlock.

In November 1971 the mangers applied for permission to build new premises and in April 1972, they were notified the project was approved and been placed with the building list for 1972 -73 as a school for 320 pupils aged 5 - 11 years.

A month later however, they were advised that the three temporary classrooms were to be retained as part of the 320-place school.

In the following July, an order was made such that the existing Holy Cross School was to be transferred to new buildings on a new site.

During the next ten years, Mr Winstanley was Head Master the school continued its annual round of Passion Pageant, annual sports, Christmas parties and orchestral concerts.

The last school assembly at the Guildhall took place on the 4th February and immediately afterwards, the hall was demolished and the site works commenced. The new buildings were taken into use on the 5th June 1978 and blessed by Bishop Emery of Bournemouth at a formal ceremony on 9th December 1978.

The former school buildings and their site were transferred from the Religious of the Cross, who were their owners, to the Trustees on behalf of the parish, to become the new parish centre, being recognised as a primary school.

Part of the old school was demolished, but a considerable part was retained and incorporated into the Centre.

The new Head Master, Mr M. Cooper was able to take up the post in September 1982 and one of his preoccupations was the problem raised by the steady increase in the numbers of pupils in the school.

The new buildings incorporated an assembly hall, Head's office, Deputy Head's room, school office, staffroom and an entrance hall incorporating a display and exhibition area.

There was also a flat for a resident caretaker.

With the numbers of children continuing to rise, an additional class was formed in February 1986 and this had to be accommodated in a room in the nearby Parish Centre. Numbers in September 1986 were high enough to make the additional class necessary and another class was formed in February 1987, using another room in the centre.

Later it was decided to provide accommodation for 420 children and to take over from the parish Centre the accommodation that was formerly part of the Holy Cross School and this would provide four classrooms.