No progress on new school despite shortage of spaces

Friday, 5 September 2025 16:31

By George Lythgoe

Playing fields in Littleborough behind Littleborough Community Primary School

The town of Littleborough is in ‘dire need’ of a new secondary school, but progress has been slow since the government halted proceedings in 2022.

The new school, Star Lakeside Academy, was supposed to open its doors in 2023. But a brick has yet to be laid on this project since the the Department for Education (DfE) suspended work three years ago.

Recent Rochdale council data predicts a shortage of secondary school places in the Pennines and Rochdale areas for 2026 (13 places needed), for 2027 (58 places needed), and for 2028 (36 places needed).

With hundreds more homes due to be built in Littleborough over the next few years, local politicians feel the extra 150 school places per year group, provided by Star Lakeside Academy, would be vital.

The new Labour government coming in back in July 2024 led to further delays on the Star Lakeside Academy scheme.

According to council papers, DfE had advised an update would come by late spring 2025, yet the project remains paused. The government department had no update to give when asked to comment, but said any update would be ‘communicated in due course’.

Rochdale’s MP Paul Waugh wrote to Minister for School Standards Catherine McKinnell last autumn to request a meeting to unblock delays in building extra school provision.

In his letter, Mr Waugh pointed out that the lack of places for children going from primary school into Year 7 has now ‘become unmanageable’. Mr Waugh added that the current situation ‘leaves young children having to be sent out of the borough on two buses and commutes of an hour each way’, in some cases, being split up from their family members.

Speaking last October, Mr Waugh said: “Rochdale is in dire need of more school places, I have requested to meet with the relevant Department for Education Minister as a matter of urgency to bring this project back on track.”

This letter came on the back of years of campaigning from Littleborough Lakeside councillors to boost school places.

Local politicians have previously spoken of hearing stories from parents telling them their child has to travel miles from home to get to school, sometimes separating siblings and friendship groups.