Baines’ Endowed Church of England School, off Bank Road, Marton, Blackpool

THE LATEST SCHOOL - The school has accommodation for 520 scholars—400 in the junior block and 120 in the senior department. The classrooms in the junior block are arranged around three sides of the central courtyard or quadrangle; the north side being occupied by the large Assembly Hall. The rest of the northern front consists of cloak rooms, staff rooms, and store rooms. There are two entrances to the junior school, one for boys, and the other for girls. Special attention has been directed in the arrangement of the classrooms so that each room has full benefit of the sun's rays from sunrise to sunset. Around the three sides of the quadrangle is a continuous covered way, so that children can leave their classrooms for either the cloak rooms or for a general assembly without being exposed to the weather. Wedged between two of the classrooms is the small Assembly Hall for the senior portion of the school, and adjoining the Assembly Hall are the senior teaching staff rooms. There is a similarly covered way to the northerly elevations and the classrooms, and at each end access is gained to the respective cloak rooms. It is intended to make this school self-contained in every respect, the Board of Education having already approved of plans for a manual training centre and a large room for cookery and domestic science. Buildings as now erected provide for these additional departments when funds are available. Tho accommodation in the junior school consists of five classrooms for 48 scholars each, and three classrooms for 40 scholars each, and in the centre portion four classrooms for 40 scholars each. 

The architect responsible for the designs and superintendence is Mr. Halstead Best, F.R.I.B.A., F.S.I., of Clifton-street, Blackpool, and the general contractors are Messrs. Atherton Bros., Peter Street Saw Mills, Blackpool. Sub-contractors, who, under their respective trades, have been responsible for the work being satisfactorily completed are as follow: Messrs. Hogarth and Pollard, Central Drive, Blackpool, brickwork, concreting and draining; Messrs. Eaves and Co., Vicarage Lane, Blackpool, mason's work; Mr. W. Ward, 11, Shaw Road, South Shore, plastering and cementing; Messrs. Wilfrid Coop Ltd., Whitegate Drive and Brock Road, Blackpool, plumber, sanitary engineer and decorating contractor; Messrs. E. BJ Burgess and Co., 6, Castle Street, Liverpool, flooring; Messrs. Booth and Co., Bolton, steel work; Messrs. H. Heywood and Co. Ltd. Manchester, roof glazing and verandahs; Messrs. Fish and Wright, Marton, builders' ironwork; and Messrs. Lawrence and Co., Buchanan-street, Blackpool, central heating. [Blackpool Gazette and Herald, Saturday 6 November 1926 page 16]

Reference    Builder 24 April 1925 Page 658
Reference    Blackpool Gazette and Herald, Saturday 6 November 1926 page 16 – opening
Reference    Who’s Who in Architecture 1926