nlmatters
Riddings Comprehensive School - 27th November 2025
Work has officially commenced to demolish the disused former Riddings Comprehensive School on Enderby Road in Scunthorpe, paving the way for the site to be completely cleared for future development.
The current phase of demolition and site clearance follows extensive preparation work that began in September. An expert asbestos removal company was brought in to meticulously clear the site of hazardous materials, ensuring safety before heavy machinery moved in.
With the asbestos threat neutralised, bulldozers have now moved onto the site, steadily working to level the structure and transform the former educational institution into a cleared plot.
However, the current demolition efforts will not encompass all parts of the former school. The distinct former school hall and gymnasium facilities are being preserved for the time being, as they are currently in active use by the Kimberley Performing Arts Centre.
It is understood that these sections will face demolition at a later date, aligning with the Kimberley Performing Arts Centre's ambitious vision for the future. The centre has revealed plans to construct a new, purpose-built performing arts facility directly behind the existing Riddings Community Hub & Pool, promising a modern home for creative arts in the area.
The demolition of the school building is part of a wider "Riddings Master Plan," an extensive regeneration scheme for the area which would see 120 new homes built on the site. This comprehensive plan also includes the future demolition of several other community facilities in Riddings including the former library, community centre, sports hall, youth club, and nursery on Willoughby Road.
In 2023, North Lincolnshire Council unveiled its vision to leverage government funding and forge new partnerships to construct a contemporary community centre and new housing specifically for older residents on the vacant Willoughby Road site.
Riddings Comprehensive opened in 1958 at a cost of £200.000 with head teacher Earnest Crowton, twelve staff and 160 pupils. As the Riddings Estate grew so did the school with a new three storey east building (new block) and new engineering block being built in the 1960s.
An Advert in the Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph 22nd April 1958 read: "For 160 secondary school pupils in Scunthorpe the start of the summer term brings the pleasant task of pioneering an ultra modern education establishment which has cost nearly £200.000. This is the newly complete Riddings Secondary School, the 12th school to be completed in Scunthorpe since the second world war.
"The boys and girls starting this year are 1st & 2nd year pupils. Each year numbers will grow until the school has its full compliment of 700 children between the ages of 11 and 16.
"The headmaster of the new school is Ernest Cowton who was formerly headmaster of Immingham Secondary School.
"The school has an overall length of 350ft, an assembly hall measuring 60ft by 50ft, gymnasium, 27 classrooms, specialist rooms, kitchen and dinning room.
It is divided into two main sections, the two storey classroom block on the left of the entrance and the assembly hall, kitchen, dinning room and gymnasium on the right. The assembly hall has a stage equipped with full lighting and is also planned as an overflow classroom. The gymnasium has all the latest fixed and removable apparatus. The architects are Messer Clarke, Hall and Scorer of Lincoln."
The school was extended in the 1960s to deal with the growing number of pupils with the addition of a new 3 storey east block. A music suite was added in the early 1970s.
In September 1991 the school had a name change to South Leys, a further name change after the millenium saw it become Melior South Site, after a merger with the nearby Thomas Sumpter School. The school closed in September 2010 with staff and pupils being transfered to the north site under North Lincolnshire Council's 'Building Schools for the Future' program.
The original 'west' building (or old block), seen below, was breifly used as an Adult Education Centre. The engineering block was demolished in March 2011, the 'new block' and the water tower were demolished in November 2012.
Riddings Comprehensive School - 27th November 2025
Work has officially commenced to demolish the disused former Riddings Comprehensive School on Enderby Road in Scunthorpe, paving the way for the site to be completely cleared for future development.
The current phase of demolition and site clearance follows extensive preparation work that began in September. An expert asbestos removal company was brought in to meticulously clear the site of hazardous materials, ensuring safety before heavy machinery moved in.
With the asbestos threat neutralised, bulldozers have now moved onto the site, steadily working to level the structure and transform the former educational institution into a cleared plot.
However, the current demolition efforts will not encompass all parts of the former school. The distinct former school hall and gymnasium facilities are being preserved for the time being, as they are currently in active use by the Kimberley Performing Arts Centre.
It is understood that these sections will face demolition at a later date, aligning with the Kimberley Performing Arts Centre's ambitious vision for the future. The centre has revealed plans to construct a new, purpose-built performing arts facility directly behind the existing Riddings Community Hub & Pool, promising a modern home for creative arts in the area.
The demolition of the school building is part of a wider "Riddings Master Plan," an extensive regeneration scheme for the area which would see 120 new homes built on the site. This comprehensive plan also includes the future demolition of several other community facilities in Riddings including the former library, community centre, sports hall, youth club, and nursery on Willoughby Road.
In 2023, North Lincolnshire Council unveiled its vision to leverage government funding and forge new partnerships to construct a contemporary community centre and new housing specifically for older residents on the vacant Willoughby Road site.
Riddings Comprehensive opened in 1958 at a cost of £200.000 with head teacher Earnest Crowton, twelve staff and 160 pupils. As the Riddings Estate grew so did the school with a new three storey east building (new block) and new engineering block being built in the 1960s.
An Advert in the Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph 22nd April 1958 read: "For 160 secondary school pupils in Scunthorpe the start of the summer term brings the pleasant task of pioneering an ultra modern education establishment which has cost nearly £200.000. This is the newly complete Riddings Secondary School, the 12th school to be completed in Scunthorpe since the second world war.
"The boys and girls starting this year are 1st & 2nd year pupils. Each year numbers will grow until the school has its full compliment of 700 children between the ages of 11 and 16.
"The headmaster of the new school is Ernest Cowton who was formerly headmaster of Immingham Secondary School.
"The school has an overall length of 350ft, an assembly hall measuring 60ft by 50ft, gymnasium, 27 classrooms, specialist rooms, kitchen and dinning room.
It is divided into two main sections, the two storey classroom block on the left of the entrance and the assembly hall, kitchen, dinning room and gymnasium on the right. The assembly hall has a stage equipped with full lighting and is also planned as an overflow classroom. The gymnasium has all the latest fixed and removable apparatus. The architects are Messer Clarke, Hall and Scorer of Lincoln."
The school was extended in the 1960s to deal with the growing number of pupils with the addition of a new 3 storey east block. A music suite was added in the early 1970s.
In September 1991 the school had a name change to South Leys, a further name change after the millenium saw it become Melior South Site, after a merger with the nearby Thomas Sumpter School. The school closed in September 2010 with staff and pupils being transfered to the north site under North Lincolnshire Council's 'Building Schools for the Future' program.
The original 'west' building (or old block), seen below, was breifly used as an Adult Education Centre. The engineering block was demolished in March 2011, the 'new block' and the water tower were demolished in November 2012.