Watch drone footage of the former buildings of a Hartlepool school being demolished

Former 40-year old classrooms familiar to thousands of students are being demolished after lessons moved into their new £18 million building last November.

Despite the nationwide lockdown, the bulldozers are still hard at work clearing the Elwick Road site.

Work began in February and is due to be completed by June at the latest.

High Tunstall’s former sports hall and caretaker’s house have already been razed to the ground.

A bird’s eye view of the demolition has been captured in drone footage taken by Peter Stoddart, High Tunstall’s alternative provision programme inclusion assistant.

Headteacher Mark Tilling told the Mail: “Demolition started in early February. We’re hoping it will be finished by the middle of May or early June.

“Then the next stage of the development of the site will happen.”

That will see the creation of new 3G sports pitches on the old site funded by the Football Foundation, and new changing rooms will be built near the youth centre.

Mr Tilling added: “It will be a full sized 11 versus 11 player pitch with a number of smaller pitches contained within it.

“I’m really excited for the additional facilities for the college as well as the community.”

Councillors unanimously praised the plans when they granted planning permission in December.

High Tuntall’s Life Centre, swimming pool, and eco centre will remain standing.

Plans are also being lodged with Hartlepool Borough Council for a new layout to the car park.

Although most students are learning from home, High Tunstall remains open for a small number of children of key workers.

Mr Tilling said an online learning tool has proved successful with a whopping 800,000 questions asked by High Tunstall students being answered.

He said the school is following official advice on when and how they will be allowed to reopen.

“We need to make sure when we open again it’s safe for students, staff, parents and carers,” said Mr Tilling.

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