Adult classes cut at Saddleworth School

ADULT night classes at Saddleworth School are being cut from two days a week to one to save money.

But Oldham Council insists that the same number will still be available to people, although some classes will move to Lees and Shaw.

From September, the facility will no longer open on Thursday evenings. Instead, classes such as cookery, digital photography, Spanish and French will only be available on Tuesdays along with community group sessions.

Changes include:

::The Thursday night drawing and painting class moving to Shaw.

::The French intermediate conversation class relocating to Lees where a Spanish Year 1 class is also being offered.

::Additional ICT classes at Lees Library which recently underwent a £536,000 revamp.

::Workers’ Educational Association classes moving from Thursdays to Tuesdays at Saddleworth School.

::Pilates and total-body workout fitness sessions no longer running, as the council says there is a comprehensive range of evening classes at Saddleworth Sports Centre.

Uppermill Unfit will continue to meet at the school on Thursdays after making a special arrangement.

Councillor Kay Knox, cabinet member for children, young people and families explained: “The council has combined the two sessions at Saddleworth School to ensure a more cost-effective use of this facility. It has not cut the service.

“At the same time some language and ICT classes will be moving to Lees Library and additional maths and English classes will also be run there to take advantage of the excellent new facilities.”

A claim by Labour councillor Dave Hibbert that staff at Chadderton Library have been banned form handing out the new edition of Focus, the lifelong learning prospectus, has also been denied.

Councillor Knox said this was “wholly untrue” and added: “The first edition was a limited print run and was only distributed from lifelong learning centres.

“A second larger print run will be available from Friday (July 24).

“All libraries were informed that copies of Focus would be available on this date which is much earlier than previous years.

“It is well in advance of the main advice sessions in early September and the start of classes from September 14.”