Woolas backing science centre

THE case for a new science centre in Oldham has been made to Government to try and secure backing.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas, Oldham Sixth-Form College head Nick Brown and deputy principle Jayne Clarke told Schools Minister Vernon Coaker that the state-of-the-art centre could transform the area.

A bid for Oldham Sixth-Form College’s £20 million science centre has been submitted and Mr Woolas will set out the case for it being made as part of the Government’s Building Schools for the Future project which will revamp all secondary schools across the borough.

Recent problems with funding from the Learning and Skills Council had threatened to throw the plans into jeopardy, but Mr Woolas has vowed to lobby fellow ministers to ensure the cash is secured.

The Oldham MP said: “This idea is unique and it does not fit neatly into Whitehall’s plans so we are trying to navigate through 1000 islands.

“I think the case for the science centre is complete and overwhelming — it is a brilliant idea.

“The money is there, we need ministers to show imagination to give us the go-ahead for this.

“This could transform Oldham town centre. Most people want more students to do more science and at the moment we are having to turn them away.

“If we can get the support for the idea that is the first step and then will will keep pushing the LSC. We are not asking for money from Government but we want its support. We are hopeful but we need support from the LSC as well.”

The new science block would provide state of the art laboratories and increase student’s interest in science which could later be extended to university students.

Mr Woolas said now it was a case of waiting for a response from Government about the meeting before taking the case to the LSC.

Nationally take up in science subjects is low and in Oldham there were only six of the 15 secondary schools across the borough where at least one student was entered for separate science GCSEs.

Most opt for the core science which was introduced in 2006 with the aim of making the subject more relevant to pupils not intending to study it at university.