WORK on a new £7 million sixth form centre is on track for a September opening, school bosses have said.

Bolton School is to get a state-of-the-art facility, bringing boys and girls together under one roof for the first time in the school’s 497-year history.

The building will be called The Riley Centre in honour of former pupil Ian Riley, who has been a driving force in making the centre a reality and is the lead benefactor.

The centre will provide modern teaching facilities for 400 sixth form students, with a common room, a cafe, offices for sixth-form staff and an exhibition room.

It will also have glazed walkways linking to existing school buildings.

Pupils in Years 7 to 11 will continue to study in the main school building, and all pupils will be able to use a computer room and other facilities in the new centre.

The school’s girls’ division headteacher Sue Hincks said: “We are looking forward to welcoming both our own year 11 students and those girls and boys who join us in the sixth form from other schools.

“This wonderful centre will open in September and will provide students from both boys’ and girls’ divisions with a hub for social activities and study, allowing us to retain single sex teaching while creating an environment in which boys and girls will study and relax together.

“We are indebted to alumni and friends of the school, whose vital financial support has allowed us to realise such an ambitious project which will benefit so many future generations.”

The new sixth form has replaced parking spaces, so 54 spaces were created in a temporary car park on the school grounds near Tudor Avenue.

The school has now asked Bolton Council if that car park can remain permanently.

A school report to the council says: “There have been no objections or complaints from residents in this location, since the car park came into use. It would help to alleviate the onstreet parking at Chorley New Road and elsewhere around the school site.”

The council is aiming to reach a decision by April 14.