Permanent high school building delayed as ‘it’s too expensive’

A new permanent high school building in Radcliffe will be delayed as it’s ‘too expensive’. Bury Council’s cabinet heard that the uncertainty was causing ‘concern and anxiety’ for parents at the school and those planning to send their children there in the future. In September, Star Radcliffe Academy welcomed its first cohort of 150 Year 7 pupils.

To enable the school to open, pupils are currently using fully equipped temporary accommodation on the school site until a permanent building is built. The 750-place secondary school for 11-16 year olds will admit a new Year 7 intake each year for the next five years, reaching full capacity in all year groups in September 2028. The construction of the school was expected to be completed by next summer meaning both existing pupils and a second cohort would be taught in the new school form September 2025.

It has now emerged that construction work on the new building has yet to start. The additional delay means a second cohort of pupils starting next year will be taught in temporary accommodation with the new building not expected to be ready until Spring 2026 at the earliest. Conservative deputy leader, Cllr Jo Lancaster spoke at the cabinet meeting.

She said : “It came as a shock to me when I recently visited the school that not one brick has been put in the ground yet. “It’s causing a lot of concern and anxiety for the people of Radcliffe and parents whose children are at the school already.” Cabinet member for ch.