The Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has expressed his disappointment and dismay on hearing news that another school in Oldham – the Oasis Academy Oldham – has failed the OFSTED test when it comes to performance.

Councillor Sykes said:  “Oldham Council and its educational partners have had years to turn around Oldham’s academic performance, but yet again we see another negative report of an Oldham school rated ‘inadequate’ and in need of ‘improvement’ in several key areas, including the quality of teaching, learning and assessment.”

“When the Oldham Education and Skills Commission Chair Baroness Estelle Morris stated on the publication of its long-awaited report in January 2016, ‘we are on the edge of being able to achieve great things here in Oldham’, her words did not contain the note of caution ‘but not yet’.  Three years on and we are still ‘not yet’”.

“Oldham’s Labour leaders have promised time and again that the report’s recommendations, and the work of the Partnership that was established to deliver them, would bring about a transformation in our educational attainment, but we have yet to see any real change.”

Councillor Sykes added:  “In 2013 Oasis was reported to be the most improved school in Greater Manchester, but now sadly we have seen a significant slippage in performance.  What is most saddening is that pupils have ‘underachieved significantly’, especially the most able pupils.”

“I can only hope that the school’s headteacher and staff team really will succeed in leaving ‘no stone unturned’ in a renewed effort to get back on track.  For this is yet another example of more of our children being failed by Oldham’s Labour run education system and we really must do better to be sure that our children’s futures will not be jeopardised.”