History makers

Pupils begin their first day at the new Collective Spirit Free School, Chadderton.

THE first day of term heralded a new era for education in Oldham.

Collective Spirit made history yesterday when it became the first free school to open in the borough. The secondary, at the former South Chadderton School/Oasis Academy Oldham site in Butterworth Lane, has places for up to 60 Year 7 pupils and will eventually expand to have 300 pupils in years 7 to 11.

Some pupils arrived by minibus yesterday, looking smart in their new uniforms of grey trousers and skirts, dark blazers, blue jumpers and blue and yellow ties.

Free schools are state-funded but outside local authority control, giving them greater freedom to innovate. They are run by a range of different groups from parents to private organisations.

Collective Spirit is described as “faith sensitive” but says it is not a faith school.

Its team has expertise in a range of areas.
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