Building a better future for our children

Ambitious plans to transform secondary education in Rochdale borough will be reviewed by councillors before the end of January.

The plans, part of the Government’s Building Schools for the Future programme, are designed to improve secondary education in the Borough and to provide pupils with an inspirational learning environment fit for the 21st century.

Rochdale has been prioritised in Wave Four of the BSF programme and has been given an allocation of £152 million.

The Council, working closely with schools, parents and local communities, has spent the last six months asking people their opinions on initial proposals to reduce the number of secondary schools in the Borough from 14 to 12 and to alter post-16 provision.

The changes are necessary because the number of pupils in the Borough is expected to drop significantly over the next decade and many of the current buildings are not fit for the purpose.

More than 70 consultation meetings have already taken place and people have also been able to have their say online and by using feedback forms located at each of the four township offices.  These findings have now been incorporated into new reports, which go before the Council’s Cabinet at the end of January.

Council Leader Alan Taylor said: “The Borough’s young people deserve the best quality education we can give them and Building Schools for the Future gives us a real opportunity to make radical improvements to the quality of secondary school provision.  But it’s not just about improving buildings.  It’s about making schools part of the wider community and providing better opportunities for all.

“The Council’s track record of investment in primary schools is already paying off, with the authority recognised as being the most improved in the country at Key Stage 2.  Improvements to secondary education are now vital if we want to give the Borough’s children the best possible start in life.”

After taking into account comments made during the consultation, the reports recommend:

• The closure of Heywood Community High school in the third phase of the project, with the possibility of exploring a new-build of proposed Holy Family RC and C of E College on the Heywood Community site.
• The amalgamation of Balderstone Technology College and Springhill High School on one site (the location is yet to be decided - this will be put out for further consultation)
• New-build schools on the sites of Hollingworth Business and Enterprise College and Falinge Park High.
• Remodelling and/or refurbishment of Cardinal Langley RC High, Middleton Technology, Siddal Moor, Matthew Moss, St Cuthbert’s RC, and Wardle High, of Brownhill Special School and of the pupil referral units at Saxon Hall/Darnhill.
• Remodelling of Brownhill, with support units in all new-build schools to accommodate some existing pupils.
• The establishment of a new Academy on the site of the Queen Elizabeth School from September 2007 (with new-build to follow).
• Proposal to establish a sixth-form centre in Rochdale and the subsequent closure of sixth-forms at Wardle High, Oulder Hill and St Cuthbert’s RC in three/four years.
• An expansion in the number of 11-16 places at Oulder Hill and the proposed closure of the sixth-form.

The initial proposals have also been modified and there will now be further opportunities for stakeholders to express views on:

• A proposed change of site for the planned Holy Family RC/C of E College from the existing St Joseph’s site to the Heywood Community site, in a new-build school and the admission arrangements for this school.
• The choice of site for the school to replace Balderstone Technology College and Springhill High School.
• Planned admission numbers for both Wardle High School and Hollingworth Business and Enterprise College.

The Building Schools for the Future construction programme is expected to start in 2009/10, with a development programme of around 5 years.

The report to be considered by councillors is available in main libraries or the offices of Committee Services in Rochdale Town Hall.

Tel (01706) 924719.

Email committee.services@rochdale.gov.uk

The Cabinet meeting takes place on 29 January.