Waterloo Road Rochdale
The series is set in and around Waterloo Road, a fictional school for students aged 11 to 18, a comprehensive in Rochdale in series 1 to 7 and an independent in Scotland thereafter. At the opening of the series the school was notorious for being "on the scrapheap" with poorly-behaved students and poor-quality teachers, but each head has strived to prove the school better than its reputation and it has passed mulitple inspections to stay open across the years. Waterloo Road was filmed at Hill Top primary school on Hill Top Drive in Rochdale for a whole 6 years where the set grew as Waterloo Road.
Goodbye RochdaleThe BBC drama is currently based in the town's former Hill Top School but will soon move to a new home in Scotland, as announced earlier this year.
Rochdale Online now reports that no further use has been identified for the former school. As a result, local councillors are expected to meet next week to discuss whether it should be knocked down. A report to be submitted to councillors apparently reads: "No use can be identified for the buildings in the short to medium term. If not demolished they would be empty, incurring costs for security and presenting high health and safety risk. "It would not be appropriate to seek a use for the buildings in the longer term because the site is identified as part of the approved clearance programme for the implementation of the Kirkholt regeneration plan." Waterloo Road is expected to finish filming in Rochdale early next year. Production will then move to Greenock in Scotland for episodes which will air in September 2012. The show's move will be explained on screen when an "explosive" storyline leads to a group of existing pupils and teachers setting up a new independent school in Scotland, which will also use the Waterloo Road name. |
Google maps view of the location: |
Take a look around the school:
|
|