Fresh hope for Catholic school

Fear of compensation claim may sway Government

OLDHAM’S new £30 million Catholic high school could go ahead in a bid to avoid a huge compensation claim.

There is speculation that the Government could give the green light for the new secondary in Broadway, Chadderton, along with £26 million rebuilding work at North Chadderton School.

The two projects were put under review when education secretary Michael Gove scrapped the £55 billion Building Schools for the Future programme.

Hundreds of new secondary school building projects were scrapped nationally, including several in Oldham. Plans to replace five of the borough’s schools with academies are also being reviewed.

Oldham had chosen two contractors to build its academies and replace or refurbish its other crumbling secondaries, however the packages had not been signed.

But Councillor Jack Hulme, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said that the individual deals for the RC school, combining Our Lady’s and St Augustine, and North Chadderton had been completed.

The latter was only agreed a week before the Government axe fell, with work on both due to start in January.

Councillor Hulme denied that they had been rushed through amid fears about the what ministers were about to do.

He believes that the Government would be liable for any compensation from builder Balfour Beatty if they did not go ahead.

“As far as the council is concerned, we have acted in good faith and we have proceeded accordingly,” said Councillor Hulme.

“If there was any appeal for compensation, my guess would be that the appeal would be lodged with the secretary of state.

“As far as I am concerned these two schools are still in with a chance — I wouldn’t like to say how good the chance is.

“The chief executive, council leader Howard Sykes and myself have all met with ministers and had various discussions to why these two schools should go ahead.”