schools for filming locations

Sorry for this not being football related but I wondered if I could pick your brains and local knowledge. I do scouting for filming locations and I need to find a school within 30 minutes of Sheffield that we could film in over the school holidays. I have looked at a few in Sheff and Rotherham and I am making my way towards Barnsley and Donny.. It needs to be a secondary/middle school that is a little past its best so nothing too modern. Not too bothered on what period though as long as it has someting interesting about it and some distinct features. The most important thing is that it is close to the road as there is a particular scene where kids look out of the window and see a rolls royce driving past. Any thoughts of schools that may work would be appreciated and I can go and have a look and if it looks possible speak to them about the possibilities. Ideally it would be in Sheffield but I think Barnsley would be close enough. thanks in advance for any suggestions

 

try either Doncaster Road school in Mexborough or Castle Academy in Conisbrough. Probably not that run down but can deffo see main road from windows....

 

All the secondary schools in Barnsley were replaced in the last few years and as far as I'm aware the old ones were knocked down. Also, a Rolls Royce in Barnsley?

As for Sheffield, have you looked at King Edward's which is an old building with roads on 3 sides? Ecclesfield has a main road going past it. Rawmarsh in Rotherham may be a possibility with a road in front, although there's a car park there too.

 

Why would it have to be a secondary/middle school? What would be in such a building that is not in a say a primary school?
Is this a professional operation willing to pay?

The reason I ask is my wife is the headteacher at a primary school. It's red brick, a little past its best, located at the side of a road, on the border between Sheffield and Barnsley...

 

No point in trying Doncaster Rd School, Head leaving this week, The Council are trying to amalgamate it with another school so everythings up in the air, I would be very surprised if anyone could or would make a decision till after all the consultation is over in November.

 

It's Primary, but Cudworth churchgoers fits the age and near to the road.

 

Try Balby Carr. Balby's a shithole so surely the school will be?

 

thanks for all the suggestions so far. The reason it cannot be a primary school is that they will be doing substantial filming inside (classrooms, canteens etc) and want it all dressed with the right size tables. It would certainly be payed and financialy worthwhile for the school and they would probably use the local kids as background so it would be a good thing to be involved with

 

Understood. Although if you found a primary school that would be more suitable it might be worth investing in a set of second hand school tables and chairs. They're a dime a dozen and are usually thrown away when a school is refitted.

 

Good point but then sourcing a few hundred school kids more hard work than just using the ones that are there? I dunno

 

My old school. Wath Comp. Thank me later.

 

its all a possibility but its also scale of classrooms, mini toilets, school grounds etc so I have to start with real secondary schools and then if we don't find what we are looking for starting looking at other things such as primary schools

 

How long have you been in this line of work and how did you get in to it?

Sorry for being nosey, I just find it interesting.

 

some interesting ones suggested here. Cheers King edwards, balby carr and wath comp look promising on google maps and I haven't even looked at some of the earlier mentioned ones yet. A pint before the match goes to anyone who gets me the winner

 

New school now though mate. Well, relatively. Would have been perfect in our day

 

Jay, been doing it for about 15 years. Did a film course at Uni and got a job in locations on a crap drama. Been doing it ever since

 

Careful with Barnsley schools and Google maps. There's quite a few that'll just be a field when you turn up. Photos were taken before they were levelled.

 

That's a shame. Back when we were there it would have been ideal, in terms of what klinglang is searching for. Not surprised if it's been upgraded in the last couple of decades though because it was old then wasn't it? And ******* huge compared to Elsecar C of E where I'd been before. Another brilliant location but a primary school.

 

Reopened 2005 all on one site. First year wings only just being redeveloped (housing). JB Wing part of Wath Central. Some of the old school was great but half my lessons were in portakabins.

*******s though Labour, knocking down all those years of Tory under investment and building all them new schools instead of putting money away for a rainy day.