Academy short-list is finally drawn up

COUNCIL chiefs have chosen their short-list of firms competing to deliver the ambitious academies programme.

Two National Framework providers — Willmott Dixon and Carillion — will now receive a full Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the scheme.

The decision follows an exhaustive evaluation process which included interviews with a panel of Oldham Council representatives, plus the three academy sponsors — Oasis Community Learning, The Oldham College and Edutrust Academies Charitable Trust.

A period of extensive negotiations will now take place before both firms return their ITTs at the end of January, 2010.

The £77 million academies programme is part of Oldham’s £266 million Building Schools for the Future (BSF) overhaul and will see three academies replace five schools.

Balfour Beatty and Kier have been knocked out of the bidding process for the multi-million-pound contract.

Councillor Kay Knox, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “Over the coming months our discussions with Willmott Dixon and Carillion will focus on the design of the Oasis Academy at the former Brook Mill in Hollinwood, but plans for the Waterhead and EACT Academies will also be developed further.

“Oldham Council will push each of the bidders to commit to using local labour in their work force for these projects — and local companies in their supply chain. We also want them to provide educational and work experience opportunities for the young people of Oldham.

“The firms will also be challenged to demonstrate that they can ensure that all sections of the community will have access to our new academies and the fantastic learning, ICT and sports and leisure facilities that they will provide.”

The council’s cabinet will make a final decision on the successful bidder in March, 2010.

Oldham’s Academies programme will lead to the existing South Chadderton and Kaskenmoor schools closing and a new replacement academy – sponsored by Oasis – built on the Brook Mill site in Hollinwood by 2012.

Counthill and Breeze Hill schools will shut with a new academy – sponsored by the Oldham College – built on the former Orb Mill site, Waterhead, also by 2012.

The Grange school will also shut and be replaced by an academy – sponsored by Edutrust – built on the current site of Our Lady’s school, Royton, by 2013.