Flying start for new high school?

OLDHAM could get its new Roman Catholic High School 12 months ahead of schedule if councillors give the thumbs up next week.

Cabinet will make the decision on bringing forward the date to merge Our Lady’s RC, Royton with St Augustine’s, Werneth, at its meeting next Wednesday.

The project is a Building Schools for the Future scheme, which was given the funding go-ahead in July following a Government review.

It was originally set to open in 2012 but, if approved by Cabinet, the new plans will see the two existing schools close on August 31, 2011.

A single RC high school would then operate from September 1, 2011 initially as a split-site operation from the two existing schools sites.

The new school would move to a new purpose-built facility on the site of the former Radclyffe Lower School, Broadway, Chadderton, in 2012, offering what the council describes as “a high-quality option for parents wanting a Catholic faith-based education for their children.”

Staff from both schools are meeting weekly to plan and develop the curriculum and teaching arrangements for the new school.

Our Lady’s School is currently being run by an interim head teacher, Bob Thornton, because it is not possible to make a permanent appointment as the school is scheduled to close.

But if Cabinet approves the change of date, it will enable a permanent appointment to be made for head of the new school.

Councillor Jack Hulme, Cabinet member for children and families, said: “This is an important move which aims to speed up our exciting plans to establish a new unified Roman Catholic high school in the borough.”

“It would allow us to have the management and staffing structure in place well before the opening of the new school which would not only produce a cost saving but also ensure that our commitments to raise standards and transform learning opportunities are firmly on-track.”