Reading a lesson for new school

CANON Tony McBride bleses the site of the new school

A CEREMONY was held to mark the start of the construction of Oldham’s new £30 million Catholic high school.

The first sod was cut at the site of the Blessed John Henry Newman College in Broadway, Chadderton.

It followed a blessing of the ground by Canon Tony McBride on behalf of the Bishop of Salford.

Newman College will replace Our Lady’s, Royton, and St Augustine’s, Werneth.

It will initially open in September in their existing buildings before moving into the new school a year later.

Head teacher designate Mike McGhee said: “It feels great. At last we see some real action.

“We spent years behind closed doors, in meetings, in the development of a design for the school. Now here we are, the spade’s in the ground, we are clearly moving to the construction phase and we can start to get excited about the opening of the new school.”

A chapel and a covered courtyard will be at the heart of the school which will have a public plaza and community sports facilities. Balfour Beatty is carrying out the construction.

Our Lady’s and St Augustine pupils took part in Tuesday’s ceremony with children form St Edward’s and St Herbert’s primaries.