Delays likely at North Chadderton school

North Chadderton school - possible knock-on delay

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Angry parents have hit out at the delayed opening of the £33 million Newman College.

They have been given less than a week to make alternative arrangements after construction work overran at the Roman Catholic school in Broadway, Chadderton.

The Chronicle now understands some North Chadderton School pupils will also return late because of a knock-on effect on building work there.

Balfour Beatty won the £53m contract for both projects.

The new term was already scheduled to start later than usual in both schools, with many other pupils across Oldham back in the classroom today.

Year seven and 11 pupils at Newman College were due to start on Friday, followed by all other pupils on Monday. This has now been put back to September 17 and 18.

Councillor Hugh McDonald, cabinet member for education, confirmed that years seven, nine and 11 North Chadderton pupils will start as planned on Monday. Others will return a day or two late.

Newman College parent Martin Davies said: “Visiting the school last week, it still looked like a bomb site.

“Not only are we being forced to leave Royton, we are being let down again. It’s my son’s last and most important year and the last thing he needs is another week off.”

A parent from Moorside added: “I received a letter on Monday giving me four days notice that my child will not be able to attend school as he should have and I will undoubtedly have to provide for care or take time off work.

“The school governors and the local authority should have had the sense to warn parents long before the school was due to open. Who do I send the bill to for child care?”