Protesters cry ‘shame’ at school merger vote

Oldham Cabinet reports

Moorside parents and teachers from Our Lady’s RC School were left in tears as councillors voted to close the school and merge it with Sacred Heart primary at Derker.

They called “shame” as the vote was taken and hit out at the decision saying it had been railroaded through without real consultation.

And they warned that the vote was not the end of their campaign as they will go back to their MP Phil Woolas for more talks, and consider what to do next.

Councillors heard that both schools were suffering from falling numbers and budget problems, but Our Lady’s site was too small for expansion.

Councillor Jack Hulme, whose children and families portfolio meant he was the one to propose the closure, said that he gathered there had been extensive consultation, but the decision was being led by the Salford Roman Catholic Diocese.

He added: “The council in this respect is responding to the views of the Bishop and the officers of the Diocese. As someone who is close to the Catholic community, this is the last thing I want to be doing.”

And Councillor John McCann said not enough houses would be built in the near future in the Derker Housing Market Renewal area to fill the schools, and there would still be surplus places at the schools.

But outside the meeting, parent Julie Astley said: “This school was full and never had falling numbers until this suggestion of a merger came out last year. People had to fight to get their children in the school.”

Phil Austin added: “They are still not listening to us and to say there was multiple meetings and consultation is a blatant lie.

“There was one meeting, they took questions from us, promised feedback, and we have had none.”

Another parent added: “Sacred Heart will still not be full because it is too far away from Moorside.

“Fifty children have left Our Lady’s since Christmas and none of them have gone to a Catholic school, just schools in our area.”