A much-needed new secondary school which was due to welcome its first pupils next year will now not open until 2025, it has emerged. The government gave the go-ahead for a new ‘free school’ in Littleborough, Rochdale, back in 2019, as concerns mounted over the area facing a shortfall of more than 130 places.
To be run by Star Academies, the 750-place school - dubbed Star Lakeside Academy - was expected to open at the former Littleborough Playing Fields site next year. But a new council report reveals this has now been ‘paused’ by the Department for Education, which now says the school will not open before 2025.
Coun Tom Besford, who represents Littleborough Lakeside, says he was ‘staggered’ to find out through council papers, describing the news as ‘disturbing’ and ‘terrifying’. He said: “This is really shocking, disturbing and deeply worrying for hundreds of parents across Littleborough.
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