The games children played!

LAUNCH . . . pupils, from left, Ruksana Begum, Ryan Nolan, Devante Knowles and Jodie Gee, on the first day of the Trust

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OLD-fashioned pastimes made a comeback at a trailblazing school initiative.

Pupils enjoyed playing Victorian games and learning about Victorian life on the official launch day of the West Oldham Co-operative Trust.

The Trust is the first in the borough and was launched last September by the then Schools Secretary Ed Balls — currently challenging for the Labour leadership — who hailed it for leading the way in uniting the community to boost education.

It involves Hathershaw College of Technology and Sport teaming up with three primaries — Broadfield, Holy Rosary RC and St Martin’s — and the Co-operative, Liverpool’s John Moores University, Oldham Sixth Form College, Oldham Athletic Community Trust and NHS Oldham.

Trust schools are designed to offer more choice to parents and forge community links.

The Trust has the theme of lifelong learning, involving everything from John Moores University running foundation degrees for parents to drop-in health sessions. It can bid for funding not available to other schools and provide more opportunities for teaching away from the classroom, enterprise events and new facilities.

Schools continue to be funded by the local authority but gain powers similar to voluntary-aided schools.

The launch day celebrated the work of the college’s partners and saw pupils take part in Fairtrade sessions, including cooking and bag design, Victorian learning and games, such as draughts and hula hooping. Pupils also participated in a sports day event The Co-operative Challenge. Hathershaw College head teacher Carol Cawkwell said: “This is actually the first day of our new academic year. It’s a fun day that will impact on our youngsters and make them even more aware of the Co-operative values and the partners we are involved with. It was also an opportunity for people to become Co-operative members.”

The college has also opened a vegetable patch using compost, propagators, a water butt and garden canes provided by Hathershaw and Fitton Hill Police after being removed from cannabis farms.