£2.3 million sports centre in memory of Ian

The centre, which will include a multi-use sports hall, dance studio, changing rooms and classrooms, will be named after Ian Burton who taught at the school for 36 years before he lost his battle with cancer in 2014, aged 59.

Ian’s widow Jean and daughter Victoria cut the first sod to mark the start of the work last Thursday and students could be enjoying the £2.3 million facilities as soon as October.

Mrs Burton said: “On behalf of all our family, I’d like to say a big thank you to the school. 

“Ian would have been really proud and very excited about the project and hopeful of the wait to come back and see it when it’s finished.

“It’s all about inspiring young people. Ian was very passionate about leadership and opportunities for young people and he would have loved this.”

Construction firm Wildgoose will also demolish the existing 1970s sports hall on the Brinsworth Road site and expect works to take around 46 weeks.

Mr Burton’s daughter Vicky Burton (26) said: “Dad would have been really buzzing about the project -  he was over the moon with the development when they first told him about it.

“They showed him the plans and told him they were going to name it after him and he was so proud.”

Former PE teacher Mr Burton took early retirement in July 2014, to spend more time with his family.

He died after a short battle with cancer just five months later and dozens of floral tributes covered the school gates.

The popular teacher used to run outdoor education trips and took students rock climbing and orienteering.

Andrew Riches and Wayne Barsby, co-head teachers at Brinsworth Academy, said in a statement: “This new complex is a fitting tribute to Ian and a legacy to him as he spent his life inspiring young people.

“This is about investing in young people and inspiring them - something Ian spent many years doing when he taught here.

“It will have a tremendous impact on the academy. We have very successful sports programmes at both GCSE and A-Level and it will provide a springboard to promoting sport and health and well-being and will be a great facility.”