The school a Greater Manchester borough has been waiting months for is finally happening

The school a Greater Manchester borough has been left waiting for

An elite private school will be allowed to open a brand new secondary school in Oldham, the government has confirmed. Eton College, which educated the likes of Boris Johnson, Prince William, and Hugh Laurie, will help set up the Eton Star Academy, a state sixth aimed at helping ‘disadvantaged’ kids get into top universities.

Last year, Oldham Council had just announced the location of the new school – at the current Outdoor Tommyfield Market – when the government pulled the breaks on the project. As part of a review of 44 planned free schools, the Department for Education reviewed the plan’s ‘value for taxpayer’s money’.

After 14 months of silence, the government decided to greenlight the project. The decision was buried