£150 million boost for Rochdale schools

Schools in the Rochdale Borough will benefit from a £150,000,000 investment, after it was announced that the Building Schools for the Future Bid has been successful. The successful bid is the culmination of over five years work by the Council’s Local Education Authority and is set to transform schools in the Borough.

The money means tough decisions have to be made and it is expected that talks will be escalated in the possible merger of Balderstone Technology College and Springhill High School.  There are also difficult decisions to be made in Heywood and Middleton.   

Leader of Rochdale Council Councillor Alan Taylor said: "This is a hugely important day for the Borough of Rochdale, a day that will lead to better schools and better facilities.  This £150M will make a real difference to how we educate young people, a real investment in our children.  Education is not about specific school buildings, it is about enriching our young people in all parts of this Borough. 

"The one condition of this bid is that we look at reducing the amount of surplus places in this Borough unfortunately there are too many schools for the young children in the Borough.  Difficult decisions will have to be made but people have to realise that any decision will be made after listening to the people of this Borough."

Paul Rowen MP said: "I am absolutely delighted at this news, which will really change for the better the way education in this Borough is delivered.  Our children deserve to be taught in 21st century schools and this bid is the key to that. 

"The next move is to sort out sixth form provision with a purpose built college to leave a great legacy across all levels of education in the Borough.

"I would like to pay tribute to the hard work of the education officers in this Borough led by Terry Piggott."

The Rochdale Borough Cabinet will meet on 29 January to discuss the initial reaction to the outline proposals and to plan the next step for the Borough of Rochdale.