Oldham council leader defends Eton-backed school plans
Oldham's council leader has defended plans for an Eton-backed sixth form college in the town centre, calling it 'an opportunity Oldham cannot afford to miss' despite criticism from local education experts.
The Eton Star Academy would take over the former Tommyfield Outdoor Market site and aims to support 400 underprivileged students into top universities, backed by £1m from the elite Berkshire boarding school.
Council leader Arooj Shah argues the project addresses a stark gap in university progression rates, with only 14% of students from Oldham's largest college advancing to top third universities compared to 44% at leading colleges nationally.
But critics including Dominic Wall from Pinnacle Learning Trust claim the plans would 'skim off' talented students from disadvantaged areas and lack proper consultation with existing educational providers.
Local businessman Frank Rothwell supports the project, saying it would change outsiders' perception of Oldham and attract investment, while others question whether town centre land should be used for education rather than wider community benefit.
At a Glance
| What | Council leader defends Eton-backed sixth form college plans for Oldham town centre |
|---|---|
| Who | Arooj Shah (Oldham Council leader), Simon Henderson (Eton head), Dominic Wall (education expert), Frank Rothwell (businessman) |
| Where | Former Tommyfield Outdoor Market site, Oldham town centre |
| When | Plans progressing after government review, final contract pending |
| Why it matters | Could significantly improve university progression rates for underprivileged Oldham students but may impact existing sixth form providers |
| What's next | Final contract to be signed off by council's legal and executive team |
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