‘Oldham’s Eton project should be scrapped’ say local Lib-Dems

A project to build an Eton-linked school in Oldham town centre has come under fire as it continues to wait for a green light from government. 

Plans for Eton Star Academy, which is supposed to help kids from ‘underprivileged’ backgrounds into top universities, ground to a halt exactly a year ago when the government decided to review its ‘value for money’. 

The scheme would see the brand new school built on a plot outside the Tommyfield Market, which has been reserved for that purpose by Oldham Council.

The construction would be funded by the government, alongside a £1m boost from Eton. 

But with no news from the government, one political group has called for the project to be ‘scrapped’ in favour of other educational support for the borough. 

Councillor Howard Sykes, leader of the Oldham’s Liberal Democrats, said: “From the start, we have said that this project with Eton College is the wrong fit for Oldham.

"To be honest, I think it’s got more to do with Eton protecting their charity status than what’s in the interest of young people in our Borough.  

“Liberal Democrats believe the project should be scrapped.

"We can do something much better and wanted with the former Tommyfield Market site.”

The Shaw councillor criticised the scheme, which he said ‘will only help students who are already performing well’. 

“The gap that we should be addressing in post-16 education is the lack of high-quality apprenticeships and vocational courses. These are the pathways that help people into a trade and offer a route for young people who might otherwise leave education,” said councillor Sykes.

The council leadership hit back at the criticism, stating the project was ‘not in competition’ with existing investment into vocational routes but would ‘broaden the choices available to young people in Oldham’. 

Council leader Arooj Shah said: “This college will give talented, hard-working young people in our borough access to the same world-class education, opportunities, and networks that have for too long been out of reach for communities like ours.

“It will raise aspirations, attract investment into our town centre – which is what makes it the ideal location- and forge partnerships that benefit all our schools and colleges, not just a privileged few.” 

Eton College did not respond to a request for comment, but a spokesperson previously stated they were ‘confident that Eton Star Oldham will be additive to the education ecosystem in Oldham, not disruptive’. 

Taking on 240 students per year if the project is approved, the school would prioritise those from care backgrounds, with a history of being on free school meals and those who would be the first generation in their family to attend university, according to Eton headteacher Simon Henderson. 

In a recent sit-down with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Henderson said: “There’s lots of bright young people in Oldham and the surrounding areas.

"We want to make sure that they have an academic pathway that puts them in the strongest position to access the very top universities.

"That will be transformative for young people.”

While debate over the project wages locally, the government is yet to give any indication of when it will provide a final decision on Eton Star Academy.

Jim McMahon, the MP for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton MP, asked for an update from the Department for Education in parliament today (Tuesday). 

Minister Josh MacAlister responded: “The department recognises the need for trusts, local authorities and Members of Parliament to have certainty about projects as soon as possible, and we will provide them with an update on next steps in due course.”

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