Radclyffe is the choice, now let’s put our faith in it

Leaders agree site for new Catholic school

“It is not ideal, but it is the best solution.”

That was the reaction of one MP to the news that Oldham’s new £30 million Catholic high school will be built in Chadderton.

And his subdued response to the announcement by the Bishop of Salford has been reflected by others.

The Oldham Chronicle revealed yesterday that the replacement for Our Lady’s, Royton, and St Augustine of Canterbury, Werneth, would be built at the former Radclyffe lower school site off Broadway.

The Rt Rev Terence Brain had wanted a central location easily reached from all parts of the borough. His original choice of the Meridian Business Centre at Oldham Way was scraped by the council last month as undeliverable, prompting speculation about its replacement.

The project is part of Oldham’s £230 million Building Schools for the Future (BSF) proposals to rebuild or refurbish all its high schools.

The council has to submit its BSF outline business case to the government by the end of January making the bishop’s decision critical.

Radclyffe is in MP Michael Meacher’s Oldham West and Royton constituency. He said: “I’m very glad there is a decision. Time was running out.

“Obviously I am pleased. I think he (the bishop) is right not to put the whole package at risk. Obviously it is not ideal, but it is the best solution.

“The important thing is that we get this package for the children of Oldham.”

Constituents of Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas will be furthest from the new site.

He had wanted a central location.

“I don’t envy the bishop his decision. It was not my first choice, but I made it clear I would back the decision and we have got to get on with this,” he said.

The decision follows a three-and-a-half hour meeting on Monday.

The new school is due to open in September, 2012, and current Year 6 primary pupils will be among the first students. Their parents have until October 24 to submit their applications for secondary places for September, 2009.

Roger Whittaker, head teacher at Our Lady’s, was concerned that parents did not know where the new school would be.

He said: “I am as happy as I can be. At least we can go forward.

“There are problems and wherever we located the school there would be problems.”

Confident

Many people who wrote to the Oldham Chronicle had wanted the school to be built at Our Lady’s.

Mr Whittaker hoped that parents would send their children to Chadderton and added: “I feel confident we can put our energies into making sure we can make it work.

“We are going to get a brand new school. If we had gone to Our Lady’s we certainly would not have got a brand new school.”

His St Augustine’s counterpart Mike McGhee added: “The bishop’s decision means that the partnership work between the existing two schools can continue with renewed vigour to create a school of which the Catholic community of Oldham can be very proud.”

Oldham Catholic Schools Parents’ Association is happy with the decision. It had opposed the Meridian site as dangerous and polluted and more than 600 people brought traffic to a standstill during a demonstration.

A spokesman said: “We are relieved that common sense in the Salford Diocese has prevailed at long last.

“We welcome the amalgamation and we now look forward to a harmonious future with all Catholics working together without division.

“Our legacy will be an outstanding, state-of-the-art Catholic high school for the future.”

Councillor Kay Knox, Oldham’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: “While it is not a perfect solution, it is workable and sensible, and can be delivered to schedule.

“It is in the best interests of the Diocese of Salford, Oldham Council and education across the borough that we now move forward.”

Oldham Council’s Janet Donaldson, executive director of children, young people and families, said; “This is the final piece of the jigsaw in the transforming secondary education proposals.

“It is crucially important that this is seen as a priority and we are very pleased all parties have reached an agreement during this vital stage.”