Delay to permanent high school building means pupils will be taught in temporary block for a second year

Pupils at a long- awaited new high school face a second year in temporary buildings as a permanment structure is facing delays. Earlier this month Bury Council’s cabinet heard that the uncertainty was causing ‘concern and anxiety’ for parents at Star Radcliffe Academy and those planning to send their children there in the future.

In September, Star Academy welcomed its first cohort of 150 Year 7 pupils. Parents were previously told the permanent school building to be completed by next summer meaning both existing pupils and a second cohort would be taught in the new school from September 2025.

It has now emerged that construction work on the new building has yet to start. Construction of the permanent school should have started this month but the MP for Bury South, Christian Wakeford, who says the school is his ‘highest priority’ said delays experienced under the previous government had set the project back.

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He added that he had spoken to the current government minister responsible and the building should be ready for pupils to move in during the 2025/26 academic year. 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 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, Coun Jo Lancaster spoke at the cabinet meeting.
She said :