Rochdale MP backs parents’ plea for new school in Littleborough

Rochdale MP Paul Waugh has thrown his support behind parents campaigning for a new secondary school in Littleborough, highlighting the "dire need" for additional school places in the area. Mr Waugh has written to the Minister for School Standards, Catherine McKinnell, urging her to address delays in providing the much-needed educational facilities for the borough.

In his letter, the MP stressed that Rochdale Council's education department has flagged the current lack of secondary school places as "unmanageable."

The council's figures predict a shortfall of 26 places for Year 7 pupils in the Pennines area by 2026, increasing to 80 by 2027.

Local councillors estimate that, since 2021, more than 100 eleven- and twelve-year-olds have been forced to attend schools outside the area due to a lack of capacity at Wardle and Hollingworth Academies.

Many students endure lengthy daily commutes, often requiring two buses and taking up to an hour each way. Mr Waugh noted that in some cases, children are separated from their siblings, adding further stress to their education.

“The current situation leaves young children having to be sent out of the borough, facing long commutes and being split from their family members,” Mr Waugh said.

He emphasised that a new secondary school in the Pennines area would not only ease pressure on schools in Rochdale but would also provide crucial support for children with special educational needs (SEN).

Mr Waugh acknowledged that traffic management solutions would be necessary to ensure the new school could be integrated into the local infrastructure. However, he warned that the issue of school places must be resolved as a priority.

The root of the issue dates back to the 2010 Academies Act, introduced by the coalition government, which stripped local authorities of the right to build schools, despite the council’s statutory duty to ensure all children have a school place.

Rochdale Council has long been monitoring the need for future school places and has campaigned for years to secure new secondary schools.
 

Read more: Rochdale facing pupil places crisis if delayed new free school does not open by 2023Published: 12 November 2020

In 2019, the Department for Education approved plans for two new secondary schools in the borough, one of which, located in Bowlee, opened in 2021. However, the proposed school for Littleborough has faced setbacks related to cost and access.
 

Read more: Desperately needed new school in Littleborough will now not open before 2025 as government ‘pauses’ schemePublished: 09 November 2022

Although the programme was ‘unpaused’ in November 2023, progress was once again disrupted by the general election, leaving the status of the Littleborough school uncertain.

Following sustained pressure from local councillors and Mr Waugh, the MP has now formally requested a meeting with the Department for Education to clarify the situation and push the project forward.

“Rochdale is in dire need of more school places,” Mr Waugh said. “I have requested to meet with the relevant Department for Education minister as a matter of urgency to bring this project back on track.”

Parents and local representatives now wait to see if the government will take action to address the shortage of school places and bring the long-delayed project to fruition.