Hope and uncertainty on academies scheme

Michael Meacher was left with a mixed feeling of hope and uncertainty after a meeting with Education Secretary Michael Gove to discuss the halted school-buildings programme.

The Oldham West and Royton MP went with Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas to lobby the minister to ensure the Oldham schemes are still being considered so that they get the improvements they need.

Mr Meacher said that significantly, Mr Gove said that if the schemes did not go through this time, Oldham would be near the top of the list for support when the spending review was complete in the autumn.

The meeting focused on the proposals for a new Roman Catholic Secondary School to replace St Augustine’s and Our Lady’s, and refurbishment of North Chadderton along with the three academy schools.

Earlier this month Mr Gove announced the axing of a massive building project to revamp or rebuild crumbling secondary schools across the borough.

Improvements to Blue Coat, Crompton House, Hathershaw College of Technology and Sport, New Bridge, Royton and Crompton, Saddleworth, the Pupil Referral Unit, and the new BEDS Special School will not go ahead as promised.

But future improvements to the new Catholic school and North Chadderton — along with the three academies — are still being considered.

Mr Meacher and Mr Woolas presented the case for Oldham on three criteria: the cost savings to the revenue account by replacing old schools with new, the dilapidation of existing buildings and the need to bring schools together to improve education and cohesion.

Mr Woolas said: “Mr Gove recognised what he described as the uniqueness of Oldham’s case.

“He accepted the point that these schools had been very close to signing contracts with builders and said we were one of 14 councils in that situation.

“I am optimistic that we will get a positive decision either in the immediate announcement expected any day or in the review to be announced in October. Our campaign goes on.”

The MPs asked for the urgent meeting after a briefing from council leaders and officials last week. Mr Meacher said: “Oldham is the 42nd most deprived borough in the country and some areas are among the 3 per cent most deprived in England.

“We are a unique case and I think Michael Gove realised that.

“He said we could not have put our case over any more forcefully and officials have been briefing him along the same lines.

“He left us with a margin of hope but also uncertainty.

“What he said was highly significant in that if these projects do not go through, Oldham would be near the top for support regarding capital provision when the spending review is complete in the autumn.”

A decision on the two schools and three academies is expected within a week.