New site for academy to be unveiled

EDUCATION bosses are poised to unveil the new site proposed for an academy run by the Christian charity Oasis.

And a parent and community panel will also be set up to give people a say on multi-million pound plans to transform Oldham’s secondary schools.

The previous Labour administration had planned to build the academy — a replacement for Kaskenmoor and South Chadderton schools — at the former Oak Colliery site in Hollins Road, Hollinwood.

This was part of Oldham’s £230 million Building Schools for the Future (BSF) plans to transform secondary education which include replacing five schools with three academies run by sponsors.

However the site sparked protests from some residents and Baptist minister David Joynes spent £6,000 of his own money trying to get it designated as a town green to protect it from development.

The new Liberal Democrat administration scrapped plans to build there after it swept to power in May. An alternative site is due to be announced within the next week.

It was was also unhappy with the BSF consultation that had been carried out and more meetings are now planned at schools earmarked for closure, and at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

A parent and community panel will also be established and Councillor Kay Knox, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “It is about giving people more details and trying to allay some of myths that are running around, a lot of which were down to lack of information.”