A ‘desperately needed’ new secondary school that was approved by the government three years ago may now never be built. Lakeside Academy, in Littleborough, was one of 22 new free schools across the country to be given the green light back in 2019.
Rochdale council bosses were delighted that the 750-place school - to be run by Star Academies - was seemingly signed off, saying it would reassure worried families and strengthen education in the borough. But earlier this month the DfE said that the school - to be built at Littleborough Playing Fields - had been paused and would not open before 2025.
Now it has confirmed there is no guarantee the school will ever open. A Department for Education spokesperson said: “New free schools such as Star Lakeside Academy are approved where there is a clear need for new places in a local area.
