Chapel Road revealed as the future home of the Oldham Sixth Form Sports Campus

Oldham Sixth Form College (OSFC) chiefs have revealed details of their new sports facility, set to open in September 2025, on site of the currently disused sports pitch at Chapel Road in Hollinwood.

Refurbishment and upgrading work is set to commence next week, with a completion target date of August, 2025.

Following a comprehensive tender process with Oldham Council, the Department for Education approved the acquisition of the site by OSFC.

The project is being designed and managed by Lancaster Maloney Martin, and we have appointed local firm Schofield and Sons as principal contractor, following a comprehensive procurement process.

Once complete, the new facility will provide an extensive range of sporting opportunities for OSFC students, as well as the Oldham and wider community.

The site will consist of a Football Association certified all-weather football pitch, changing facilities, as well as a dedicated classroom, office and teaching area.

This will provide, for the first time in the college’s 32 year history, a dedicated outdoor sport facility to complement the already high quality education and learning provided.

OSFC will offer enhanced learning opportunities and participation, providing wider options for young people in Oldham and the surrounding area.

Its mission is to transform the lives of young people through academic excellence and outstanding support and this development will further allow this.

The facility will be a purpose built pitch and teaching hub for sports students, providing not only a ground for OSFC fixtures but also an opportunity for students to improve performance in a range of sports and take their first steps into sports coaching. 

The expansion of the OSFC campus goes alongside the wider Pinnacle Learning Trust ethos to develop, grow and help Oldham, and its young people, thrive.

This development is in line with the general growth and evolution of the sixth form college, as it keeps up with ever increasing demand for places.

The impact will be felt most directly by students studying the popular and hugely successful sports courses offered at the college, which include A Level Physical Education and Cambridge Technical qualifications in Sport and Physical Activity.

The access to a state of the art sports pitch in such close proximity to the classroom will provide a wealth of context specific learning opportunities for students.

Integral to this exciting development, is a partnership with Dream Big Sports, a not for profit, locally-based multi award-winning physical education, physical activity and school sports provider, driven by a social purpose.

The partnership will truly open up the space for community access and enjoyment with Dream Big Sports leading on all facility bookings during evenings and weekends.

By working alongside the established provider of school provision and holiday camps and training, students will also gain increased work experience opportunities. 

OSFC will honour the previous facility usage entitlement of St Margaret’s C of E Primary School, and we look forward to welcoming their children for PE lessons and sports activities.

The renovation will see the no longer fit for purpose pitch be upgraded and made accessible once again to the wider community and we look forward to seeing it in use from the new academic year onwards. 

Suzannah Reeves, Principal at OSFC, said: "We are delighted that our new sports facilities at Chapel Road will be ready for students in September. 

"This is an exciting development for the Sixth Form College and the wider Oldham community and will ensure that our hugely successful Sport and PE courses continue to deliver outstanding outcomes for our students."

Dillan O’Connor, Director at Dream Big Sports, said: "At Dream Big Sports, we are incredibly proud to be working in partnership with Oldham Sixth Form College to bring sporting opportunities back to the heart of Oldham.

"Chapel Road is a familiar space for many local residents, including myself having spent many childhood years playing sport and starting my own coaching journey at this brilliant facility.

"It's a privilege to be involved in this project, providing the very best sporting facilities and a safe community space for many years to come."

Josh Martin, CEO at Lancaster Maloney Martin, said: "At LMM, we’re thrilled to support OSFC in creating a facility that will serve both students and the wider Oldham community.

"This project is about more than just bricks and mortar - it’s about providing a space where young people can thrive, where community sport can flourish, and where opportunities for learning and growth are truly accessible to all.

"We’re proud to play a part in shaping a positive future for Oldham."

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