Primary schools expansion boost

Councillor Amanda Chadderton: pleased at funding boost

FOUR Oldham primary schools are to be expanded or refurbished to provide hundreds of extra places for pupils.

Oldham Council has been given £2.5 million by Government to create 385 extra new places for pupils by 2015.

The schools — Mills Hill in Chadderton, Propps Hall in Failsworth, St Hilda’s in West Oldham and Watersheddings in East Oldham — are all rated “outstanding” or “good” by Ofsted.

Mills Hill, St Hilda’s and Watersheddings will get an extra 105 places each, Propps Hall 70.

The money is part of an £820 million fund for “Targeted Basic Need” administered by the DfE.

Councillor Amanda Chadderton, Oldham Cabinet member for education, employment and skills, said: “This is excellent news. The funding will create places in areas experiencing rising demand.

“Our growing population mirrors the national picture and the increasing pressure on primary school places, so we’re delighted the Government listened. We were the most successful Greater Manchester authority with our bids.”