Tipton high school set for demolition following blaze

A West Midlands high school which was badly damaged in an arson attack is now set to be demolished in plans for new development on the site.

Fire-ravaged Willingsworth High School in Tipton will be pulled down to make way for a new RSA Academy which will cost £35 million to build.

Work is now all set to get underway to make room for the facilities, which will follow the Opening Minds curriculum for all year groups.

Lesley James, business manager at the RSA Academy, said:

“The plans to demolish the building are being brought forward.

“It was due to be demolished in the next couple of months but it will now come down as soon as possible because of the fire.”

Willmott Dixon, the construction firm organising the operation have confirmed that the former school is now ready to be pulled down as fire investigators ruled the building structurally unsafe after the arson attack.

A spokesman for the company, Andrew Geldard, said: “The demolition of the buildings is due to finish by the end of next month.”

Fifteen crews attended the fire two weeks ago, only a few hours before the primary school in Bilston was also destroyed in a similar incident.

Police have confirmed that they are now looking into whether the two cases are linked.