Primary focus for Oldham College

Stoneleigh Primary School new extension

OLDHAM College is expanding into primary school education — only weeks after it announced it was taking over University Campus Oldham.

The college will run 166-pupil Stoneleigh Primary School, which will become an academy on September 1.

This means the college will provide education for around 13,700 people.

The move has been approved by the Department for Education and ends speculation about Stoneleigh’s future.

Oldham College will also take charge of University Campus Oldham, currently run by Huddersfield University, in August. Its future was in doubt because of funding cuts.

It also sponsors Waterhead Academy which replaced Breeze Hill and Counthill schools.

College principal Alun Francis said: “Not only is Stoneleigh a feeder school for Waterhead Academy, it serves a community which is a priority for the college.

“We believe we can bring strong support to the parents and staff at Stoneleigh in continuing the improvements already under way.”

The full version of this story is in tonight’s Chronicle and in the eChron and iChron electronic editions.