Head quits at crumbling school

The head of a £32m secondary school impacted by severe leaking and heating failures is to step down.

Newman RC College headteacher, Glynn Potts MBE, is to leave his post at the end of Easter.

In a shock letter to parents posted online, the chair of governors Mr John Cassin stressed this was not an easy decision for Mr Potts and that he had kept him informed of the many challenges surrounding this decision from the start.

He praised Mr Potts unwavering dedication and commitment for many years to not only the Chadderton school, but to the wider Oldham town.

He said: “We are disappointed to lose him but know that the wider staffing and culture of the college will see us through this transition.

“Newman is lucky to be fully staffed and despite significant financial challenges in education is still able to give students opportunities far beyond of other schools.

“The building still causes challenges but through hard work and a relentless pursuit towards accountability, Mr Potts has secured funding to provide modular classrooms of the highest standards, thus reducing the impact of any leaks or partial closure.”

Mr Cassin acknowledged that Mr Potts leadership was instrumental in guiding the college to its current position of strength.

He added: “Please be assured that Mr Potts and the college governors remain fully committed to ensuring a smooth transition and continued excellence at Newman College.

“We will begin the process of recruiting a new headteacher immediately and we are confident that we will find a leader who will continue to uphold the high standards and strong Catholic values of our college that we are proud of.

“Newman College is in a strong position with academic results which continuously place us in the top third of schools in Oldham.

“We have not allowed the misjudged Ofsted Inspection to deviate us from our plans and we know the college remains in high regard and demand.”

The school first opened in 2012 and has been blighted by leaking roofs, flooding and no heating ever since - often resulting in school closures.