£15.4m for Oldham’s overcrowded schools

Oldham schools are to get £15.4million to help overcome a shortage of school places over the next three years.

Greater Manchester will receive more than £138m to add more places, with Oldham’s the second-largest fund after Manchester’s £85m.

The Labour party claims more than 8,000 infant pupils across the region are in oversized classes, 1,496 of them in Oldham.

The extra money aims to support councils by allowing them to expand existing schools or build new ones.

Councillor Amanda Chadderton, Cabinet member for education, said the council is currently unsure where the money will go: “With an expanding population it’s crucial we take action now.


Who’s getting what

Manchester £84,878,375

Oldham £15,405,107

Rochdale £11,818,280

Tameside £6,542,566

Trafford £6,273,380

Wigan £4,289,229

Salford £4,028,264

Bury £3,793,101

Stockport £856,459

Bolton £240,652

Total: £138,125,413