New call for release of education report

HOWARD SYKES

OLDHAM’S Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Howard Sykes is calling for the release of the “much-awaited” Oldham Education and Skills Commission report before Christmas.

The commission was established to help raise local educational standards and aspirations and has compiled a report identifying areas of underachievement and suggesting ways to improve

An interim report was promised in January 2015, but did not materialise. The full report was due in July, a date again not met.

The council says the report was ready in November but was held back for the by-election. It will now be released in mid-January. A spokesman said launching the report just before Christmas would “neither make the impact nor give these issues the serious focus required”.

Councillor Sykes said: “I understand publication had to be placed on hold during the by-election, but we now have the result so there is no reason for a further delay. Parents, teaching professionals, governors and elected members will be as keen as I am to see the findings — and more importantly we need to start to act upon them as soon as possible.”

Councillor Shoab Akhtar, cabinet member for economy and skills, said: “It has taken longer to produce than originally planned because the commission met and collected evidence from a large number of stakeholders — including visiting lots of schools to get input from the most important parties: children and young people.

“This extensive engagement programme could not be rushed because all of the commissioners are unpaid volunteers so co-ordinating their availability, meetings and feedback in line with other commitments is not easy and adds time to the process.

“Having spoken to head teachers and principals, they agree with us that to launch such an important report just before Christmas would neither make the impact nor give these issues the serious focus that is required.

“It’s not the case we are waiting for publication to get on with the work — far from it. Many good things have already started to happen.”