Proposals for Oldham

The proposals include building three new academy schools, one in the west, one in the east and one in the north of the Borough.

Academies are a new type of state school sponsored by business, charities, educational establishments and faith groups. Oldham Council is in advanced talks with charities Edutrust and the Oasis Trust and the Oldham College about sponsoring the three proposed academies.

Oldham’s academies would be required to admit pupils from all faiths and backgrounds and would also be required to teach the National Curriculum. All Oldham’s proposed sponsors are from the not for profit sector.

One academy is planned to be built on the former Orb Mill land at Waterhead and would be sponsored by The Oldham College, with Oldham Sixth Form College as a partner.

The second would be on the former Oak Colliery site, off Hollins Road, Hollinwood, and would be sponsored by the Oasis Trust.

The third would be on the site of the present Our Lady RC school in Royton and would be sponsored by Edutrust.

The Oldham College – rated as ‘outstanding by OFSTED – and Oldham Sixth Form College, which is recognised as a national Beacon College, and Oldham Council would also be partners in the two academy schools to be sponsored by Edutrust and the Oasis Trust.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese has decided to bring the Our Lady and St Augustine of Canterbury schools together on a new site accessible to children from every part of the Borough. The preferred location for this new school is the present Meridian Business Centre site in Oldham town centre.

Saddleworth School would be rebuilt on a new site which is yet to be decided.

New Bridge School will gain on-site accommodation for its 6th Form.

Royton & Crompton, Hathershaw, North Chadderton, The Blue Coat and Crompton House will all receive substantial refurbishment and investment in areas such as information technology.

Breeze Hill, Counthill, Grange, Kaskenmoor and South Chadderton schools will eventually close as the new schools come on board, expected from 2011 onwards.