Classroom distinction

OVERHAUL . . . North Chadderton Upper School and sixth form

THE overhaul of crumbling North Chadderton School and sixth form is a step closer — seven years after it was earmarked for a complete rebuild.

Outline planning permission has been submitted for a mixture of demolition, rebuilding and refurbishment at the upper school in Chadderton Hall Road as part of a multi-million-pound investment.

The lower school on Broadway will close, bringing pupils together in one place.

As a split-site school, North Chadderton was earmarked for a rebuild in 2001 under Private Finance Initiative proposals.

However, these were scaled back and two new schools opened — Failsworth and Radclyffe.

North Chadderton will now be among the first to benefit from Oldham’s £230m Building Schools for the Future programme to replace, rebuild or refurbish every high school by September, 2014.

A report on North Chadderton describes some of its eight blocks as poor, gloomy and awkward, and criticises “awful” layout.

The plans for 40 per cent rebuilding, 49 per cent remodelling and 11 per cent refurbishment include demolishing existing buildings (including temporary classrooms), one and two-storey extensions, a new sports hall and outdoor facilities, and a new entrance.

Work is due to start next November to be completed by July, 2012. Pupil capacity will fall by 150 to 1,200.

Councillor Kay Knox, Cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “The proposals for North Chadderton School are exciting.

“However, it is too early to talk in any detail about them as nothing has been finalised or agreed as yet with the governing body.

“We are working with the staff and governors to turn their plans for the school into a viable and affordable design.

“These discussions are making significant progress and building work should start as planned in 2010.”