Academy worries ‘can be sorted out’

ACADEMY concerns around Oldham’s £230 million schools transformation are “resolvable”.

That’s the message from education bosses as they prepare to submit the proposals to the Government.

The assurance follows statutory consultation on plans to replace Breeze Hill, Counthill, Grange, Kaskenmoor and South Chadderton with three academies run by sponsors.

Opposition rose from 50 per cent of respondents at Kaskenmoor to 73 per cent at Breeze Hill and 78 per cent at Counthill.

However, the figures are based on the views of just 246 people who responded to the 36,000 information packs sent out — which also outlined expansion plans at Hathershaw School.

People also attended consultation events and contacted the council by phone, e-mail and letter.

The academies are part of Oldham’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) proposals to rebuild, replace or refurbish all the borough’s secondaries by 2014.

Councillor Kay Knox, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said the number of responses was disappointing: “However, this does suggest that while there are a number of parents and others with concerns about the proposals, these numbers are quite small.

“During these sorts of processes the council does tend to hear from those who have a strong opinion either way towards its proposals.

“It’s also important to look at the consultation findings in context, especially where academies are concerned. The findings suggest that the main concerns are resolvable.

“They appear to be about where they will be located and how we and the sponsors will manage the transition for pupils, rather than about the sponsors themselves or the running of academies.”

Academy opponents say that other areas have received BSF cash from the Government without building them.

Councillor Knox added: “This is simply not true.”

“The Government says that if a local authority is looking to replace a school that is achieving less than 30 per cent 5 A*-C including English and maths, then that new school should be an academy.”

Oldham will submit its BSF case to Government by the end of January.