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Land row grows over new school
Date published: 08 March 2013
A FREE school for 60 pupils is set to open in September on prime development land worth £1.3 million which is owned by taxpayers.
The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed it is in the process of transferring the former South Chadderton School to Collective Spirit — which bills itself as a “faith-sensitive” secondary.
But the council insists it has not been informed and has already earmarked the site for a garden-suburb development.
An email to Collective Spirit adds: “Ministers have written to Oldham Council to notify them that we are using these powers to secure South Chadderton. The council will be required by law to transfer the site to the school.
“The Secretary of State is using his statutory powers in this way to make sure that the South Chadderton site is acquired in time for the school to open.”
It is unclear how much the council would receive from the Government for the land but the Chronicle understands it could ultimately be forced to hand it over for free.
Council leader Jim McMahon has already said the council will go to court if it does not receive the market value, leaving a black hole in the budget.
He added: “As far as I am concerned, we are still in the middle of discussions with the Government.
“They have asked us to provide more information. We have also put forward an alternative site which they were viewing last week. Our position on South Chadderton remains the same — it is not suitable for the school.”
South Chadderton was replaced by Oasis Academy Oldham which moved into a new £25.5million school in September.
Councillor McMahon added: “A condition survey said it was in a sub-standard condition, which is why it was replaced by a new school.”
Raja Miah, from Collective Spirit, said that the group had also been offered the Groundwork building in Higginshaw Lane, but did not think it was suitable.
He added: “Recent Ofsted reports clearly demonstrate the weaknesses of secondary schools in South Chadderton.”
An open day is being held for prospective parents from 6 to 8pm on Wednesday at the City Learning Centre, Hollinwood Avenue, Chadderton.
A DfE spokesman said: “The Secretary of State is using his powers as set out in legislation to transfer the site.”
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Comments
Will Tory and Lib Dem Councillors be supporting this measure when it will mean the Council Rate payers of Oldham will be out of pocket or will they stick their heads uin the sand and try and convince voters it's nothing to do with them.
@fuo If the Council is cheated of £1.3 million on this, we are cheated of £1.3 million. It has a duty to us to extract value for money from a council asset. How it then might use that asset is another issue.
You know, I can't help thinking that if the Council had rolled over on this one and given the land away for nowt, someone like fedupoldhamer would have been first to complain.
(Of course, in that case he'd be right)
Hmmm I wonder which "Faith" is getting this free land.Its none of the major ones apparently like Christianity and Islam or Sikh.Who are the local Teachers etc all drawn from various faiths and why these sixty kids? Their brochure (Collective Spirit) says a lot but explains little.Why do they need a full secondary school for jut sixty pupils and a handfull of teachers ? Sound like the PC brigade at work again here.
So Oldham Council are claiming that South Chadderton isn't a suitable site for a school. Like they'd know what a suitable site is with the debacle that is Waterhead Academy. I've phoned Collective Spirit. The existing school would be fully updated and will educate 300 students not 60.
Why shouldn't working class parents have the same opportunities as the more well off Jim? Go to Court over this! Shameful!
Having worked with the Collective Spirit team it's clear that they are working hard and pushing the boundaries of education. A small school serving 300 not 60 children will only benefit Oldham. High cost housing or a local school meeting the needs of local families?
Oldham get's it's own cult welcome to the future. A real undercurrent of religion sticking it's ethereal nose into politics & matters that should be secular such as education in this country. Oldham does not need any more religion it absolutely makes my blood boil to have my taxes spent on anything religion based. Children don't have religious beliefs other than those forced upon them by parents. If it was done for any other subject it would be termed abuse. State & church need 100% separation.
That's hardly positive integration a school of 60, a £1.3m free land grab, more like mad elitism. I read their brochure, reminds me of The Modern Parents in Viz!
My kids name is on the list coz its Hulme school standard without the invoice.
Surely we can all see through this nonsense ?
A decent hardworking council leader is misinformed about the strength of the powers of the department of education by senior council officers. The council leader plays hardball with the department only to discover that this backfires as the department exercises its powers.
The community Oldham Council serves and the community that want this school are one and the same.
Education really going to the dogs. It's just being used to hand over taxpayer cash to private firms to make a few people richer, just like everything else.
@coldhurst lad, you mention "The community wants this school" have you asked them? Have you asked 2/3rds of the majority of the Community of Chadderton Central & North?. I suspect not for they would say NO. Their website states that its catchment area is South Chadderton, Werneth. Oldham has/had major problems where schools have become segregated & I fear looking at the catchment area that this school covers that we could end up with such an outcome. For once I am with Cllr McMahon on this one!
no JMTS. i wouldnt have complained. because the councils school building project was more about cash extraction of prime location sites and moving schools to cheaper locations.
and in this case the council wouldnt loose out. such a large site would not be just given away like the council are making out.
its just funny when the tables are turned and its the council who are suffering they plead that they are being robbed!
no mention on my housing market renewal comment too! avoiding the subject
Faith sensitive embracing the morals that all religions share but no mention of secular households as they clearly are devoid of morals. Much akin to the UK where racism, sexism, indoctrination, victimization and the like are all illegal within secular matters but are excused via religion. Jeez this town can't even fix matters of actuality and the physical world so your chances of fixing the realms of the conflicted, antagonistic ethereal realms of the imagination are equal to the proof, zero.
Taken from their web page for anyone who actually wants to know the truth rather than have a moan.
Are you a faith school?
NO. We are a faith sensitive school. This means that no one religion is used to shape our values, ethos and curriculum. Rather our approach is informed by the values and morality shared across all faiths and none.
There are no faith requirements in order to obtain a place at our school.
Concerned parent choses the parts they like and misses others. Also from their website "A faith sensitive ethos is reflected throughout all aspects of our school. Our vision is shaped by the values shared across Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism and will embody cohension" No mention of secular people or other religions and their title is Collective Spirit a secular approach does not believe or acknowledge the existence of a spirit. Secular people respect people not superstition
We should have local schools for local kids.
The parking problem is still horrendous outside this school even though the secondary school is shut.
We really need to rethink where our children go to school. Local and nearest should be priority. Many children travel in from miles away to Whitegate End - this needs to be addressed across all schools.
Have Your Say
as usual! the council wants to extract cash from what they see as a cash cow site.
it'll only go on yet more waste!
funny how years of compulsory purchase orders forcing communities out of their homes for below the market values under the housing market renewal scheme where forced through but the labour government and the liberal council.
yet now the tables are turned and its the council suffering they use every way to make themselves out to be the victim here.
again no one's fooled by this!
By fedupoldhamer @ 08/03/2013 14:46:33