Schools get go-ahead
Reporter: KAREN DOHERTY
Date published: 17 November 2010
TWO of the borough’s stunning new high schools are a step closer.
Plans for the Roman Catholic secondary and the extensive rebuilding of North Chadderton have passed the final planning hurdle.
Outline permission had already been granted for the schemes which are part of Oldham’s multi-million pound Building Schools for Future (BSF) overhaul.
And now councillors have approved the detailed proposals for the the state-of-the art facilities.
Our Lady’s, Royton, and St Augustine’s, Werneth, will merge next September before moving into a new building in Chadderton in 2012.
A chapel and a covered courtyard are at the heart of the eye-shaped school which has a public plaza and main entrance on Broadway.
Teaching areas replicate those found in industry with flexible classrooms to cater for small or large groups.
There is a separate entrance for the community sports facilities and other features include terraces and a climbing wall.
Residents had raised concerns that protected trees on Broadway would be lost, but a plan to replace them has been drawn up.
Most of North Chadderton School will be rebuilt to create themed-learning zones and a large central lobby.
There will also be a new sixth-form centre above the main entrance and an inclusion centre with provision for pupils with autistic spectrum disorders.
Refurbished and remodelled facilities will include the sports hall, gym and school hall.
Work is due to start in December and the facilities will open in September, 2013.
Both projects were in doubt when the Government axed the country’s £5 billion BSF scheme.
Several projects in Oldham were scrapped including the new Saddleworth School.
North Chadderton, the RC secondary and three academies were given the go-ahead after a review.
