We’re all together now...

SPECIAL start . . . Oasis Academy Oldham students Rebecca Murphy, Nathan Devaney, Kimberley Hinchliffe, Alecia McKenzie and Zack Conway on the Butterworth Lane campus (former South Chadderton School).

THE start of the new school year proved extra special for youngsters from Oasis Academy Oldham which opened its doors yesterday for the first time.

Following the merger of South Chadderton and Kaskenmoor schools, pupils donned their smart new uniform on the first day of term.

Students will continue to be taught on existing school sites until the new school building opens in Hollinwood in 2012.


...and so are we, says council

COUNCIL chiefs have approved a new report to keep Oldham’s schools transformation programme firmly on track.

They lobbied to save the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme after threatened government cuts.

Following a review of BSF by the Downing Street coalition, the local authority learned last month that ministers will support BSF sample schemes for a new Roman Catholic school at the site of Broadway’s former Radclyffe lower school and the refurbishment of North Chadderton.

At a meeting, the council’s Cabinet approved a new report for the future delivery of these projects.

Councillor Jack Hulme said: “This is an important decision to ensure that we remain on track to deliver the BSF programme in time — and on budget.

“Parents, staff and pupils should rest assured that as an authority we are now back on course and proceeding according to plan in order to complete our commercial agreements by the end of 2010.”

The Government also gave the go-ahead for three new academies as part of Oldham’s £266 million proposals to refurbish or replace all of its secondary schools.