Collective dismay

UNDER fire . . . Collective Spirit free school in Chadderton

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A SHOCKING 43 pupils have been transferred from under-fire free school Collective Spirit into a new school after requests from parents this academic year, the Oldham Chronicle can reveal today.

And a further 84 Collective Spirit pupils are currently on waiting lists for a move to their preferred school in Oldham, figures show.

The news follows a damning Ofsted inspection in May in which the school was rated as "inadequate" and placed in special measures.

Inspectors said it had failed to give pupils an "acceptable standard of education" with the curriculum not meeting pupils' needs and too many lessons taught by temporary teachers.

The Chronicle has spoken to several parents who have either succeeded in moving their child to a new school or are awaiting a place at another secondary after raised serious concerns and allegations that the standards of education, discipline and organisation at the Chadderton secondary.

The school, which had 245 pupils registered as of March 3, opened in the former South Chadderton School in Butterworth Lane in September, 2013, despite opposition by Oldham Council.

In February this year the school confirmed that it is working with the regional schools commissioner to identify a suitable group to run the controversial school.

Councillor Amanda Chadderton, Cabinet Member for Education and Early Years, said: "This academic year we have had 43 requests from parents to transfer their children from Collective Spirit to other secondary schools with available places. All of these children have been placed in other schools.

"Some parents have previously requested places at other schools that are currently full. If parents' preferred schools are full, the pupils have to go on a waiting list.

"They are also informed where there are vacancies elsewhere. In the case of children on waiting lists, they are still educated at Collective Spirit as parents have decided to wait for a place at their preferred school."

There are currently 2,343 pupils on waiting lists for transfer to a new secondary school, with reasons including children not being allocated their preferred school at year 7 allocation and to new arrivals to the borough.