Consultation pledge on Royton academy

West Oldham District Partnership
A CONSULTATION programme is planned for the proposed Oldham Academy North in Royton.

The new academy, which replaces the former Grange School, would move to the existing Our Lady’s RC School site on Broadway.

Nick Andrews, from Oldham Council economy, place and skills directorate, said he aimed to have wide consultation with pupils, teachers, governors and residents over the Building Schools for the Future scheme.

He said: “We want to be on site by July, 2011, with a completion date of September, 2013, when the academy will open for the new term.

“We need approval so we will be looking to put in a planning application in March. We will hold a consultation period over the design, grounds and facilities of the building, from March 21–23.”

Posters will be going up around the proposed site and feedback will be collected by the designers.

Mr Andrews said that this set of consultations was not intended for pupils who would attend the academy after 2013.

But Councillor Abdul Jabbar suggested there should be a community meeting to discuss the plans while Councillor Hugh McDonald said: “The whole issue here is cohesion.

“The process takes quite a while so the people of Royton need a chance to look at the plans, too.

“If the school doesn’t fill 1,500 places, we will have the same situation as in Merseyside where a school closed after only two years.”