Back to school!

The school’s “agora” or meeting hall

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Final new academy building opens its doors
Pupils move into the eye-catching £16.8 million Oldham Academy North tomorrow — completing the education shake-up that has seen three academies replace five secondary schools and transfer to striking new buildings.

Pupils broke for the Easter holiday at the school’s former Rochdale Road base but return to the new building, on part of the former Our Lady’s school site in Broadway, Royton. The academy replaced Grange School.

The new building includes an “agora” — ancient Greek for “gathering place” — which can seat 600 and is overlooked by two balconies. There are training and conference facilities as well as a variety of specialist and modern teaching spaces.

The new school also aims to offer educational, community and social opportunities for the local area and beyond.

The school has an all-weather pitch, new grass pitches, basketball, netball and tennis courts, science gardens and a pedestrian entrance leading to an entrance plaza.

There is also a separate sports hall, gymnasium and dance studio.