Easter start date for new school

SADDLEWORTH School: due for replacement

WORK will begin on building a new Saddleworth School next Easter, say council chiefs.

The site for the school is still to be confirmed, though the Chronicle understands it will be in Diggle, about a mile from the present site in Uppermill.

Oldham Council has released a timetable, saying planning and negotiations are advancing as part of the Government’s Priority Schools Building Programme. The new school is set to open in autumn 2015.

Oldham Council and Saddleworth School are working with the Education Funding Agency (EFA), which is managing the project for the Department for Education.

The EFA has been clear that there is a finite amount of money available for the project, calculated on the basis of the new school having 1,500 pupils — an expansion from the current capacity of 1,350.

Once the site is revealed a consultation will take place that would allow pupils, parents, the local community and partner agencies to have their say before any planning application is submitted.

Two contractors have been shortlisted by the EFA for school projects including, which includes the Saddleworth scheme. The successful bidder is set to be appointed by the end of October.