Schools deal agreed

A £53 million deal has been finalised to build the borough’s new Catholic secondary and refurbish North Chadderton School.

The contract for the two projects has been agreed with construction firm Balfour Beatty.

Our Lady’s, Royton, and St Augustine, Werneth, will merge in September to become The Blessed John Henry Newman School.

It will open in the existing buildings before moving into the new school in Broadway, Chadderton, a year later.

A chapel and a covered courtyard will be at the heart of the school which will have a public plaza and community sports facilities.

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.

Work there is due to be completed by September, 2013.

Councillor Jack Hulme, Cabinet member for children and families, said: “This agreement reached yesterday with Balfour Beatty Education is the result of a tremendous amount of hard work over a long period of time.”

“Construction work is planned to start immediately at the North Chadderton site and will then start in the New Year for the new Roman Catholic school.”