New Saddleworth School opens to pupils

Date published: 03 March 2022

The brand-new Saddleworth School has opened – marking the start of a new chapter in the school’s history.

The new purpose-built school in Diggle features 80 bright, modern classrooms, including specialist teaching rooms for Science, Food Technology, ICT and Design Technology.

There are also first-class sports facilities at the site with a sports hall, fitness suite and activity studios inside and an all-weather pitch outside.

Mike Anderson, Headteacher, said: “We’re all incredibly excited to move into our new school.

"Our new building has been designed with students at its heart with state-of-the-art teaching and specialist spaces, brilliant sporting facilities and fantastic outdoor learning and social areas.

"After a long wait we finally have the school that children and families of Saddleworth deserve.

"It is going to make a huge difference to students and staff, and we're delighted that we're now here.”

Cllr Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, said: "We are proud to welcome pupils and staff to their new school.

"We are committed ensuring children across the borough get the best possible education, so we're really pleased to deliver this outstanding new facility for young people of Saddleworth and beyond."

Cllr Shaid Mushtaq, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “It's great news that these pupils now have the school they have been waiting so long for.

"This is a fantastic building which will transform their learning and high school experience. Saddleworth School’s motto is ‘Aim High’ - and this new building will certainly inspire them to do that.

"What a brilliant way to start the new half term. I wish everyone the best of luck in their new building and thank all those who have played a part in making this brand-new Saddleworth School a reality.”

The new school has been designed to meet the growing needs of pupils and the community by providing an additional 150 school places – meaning it can now accommodate up to 1,500 pupils.

Tilbury Douglas Construction started work building the school at the former WH Pallet Works, Diggle, in July 2020.

Following almost 300,000 hours working on-site, it has now completed the three-storey, 10,500 m2 building.

In addition to quality learning and social facilities, the school also features a Breathing Buildings solution to provide natural ventilation - keeping it warm in winter and cool in summer to boost comfort, health, sustainability and reduce energy costs.

The construction team utilised innovative methods throughout the build, such as an earthmoving cut and fill process to excavate material to raise the level of the sports field and avoid sending material to landfill.

The project has also supported the local economy and community, including creating local jobs and apprenticeships, using local suppliers and helping Oldham charities.

This approach has delivered over £5.7m in social value benefits through the school build and almost £900k through the associated highways works undertaken by the Council.

The completion marks the successful partnership between Oldham Council, the Department for Education and Tilbury Douglas Construction  to deliver the pivotal scheme.

Phil Shaw, Divisional Director, Tilbury Douglas Construction, said: “The team’s successful delivery of this state-of-the-art project demonstrates our position as one of the leading construction companies serving the UK education sector and follows the recent construction of Halcyon Way SEND School, also in Oldham.

"It is a testament to our first-class team that has delivered on the DfE’s brief to create a world class learning environment for young people. We look forward to seeing the school’s impact upon those pupils who will access the establishment in the years to come.”

The new Saddleworth School has been built to replace the school’s existing Uppermill site, which is dated and no longer fit for the needs of 21st century education.

Following the school’s relocation, Oldham Council will apply for permission to demolish the existing Uppermill buildings.

Once cleared, the site will then be taken forward for redevelopment and is currently earmarked for a range of much-needed new homes, including a proportion of affordable homes.

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