HEADTEACHERS across the borough have reacted to Oldham being branded one of England’s education “cold spots”.

The Government announced yesterday that the borough is one of 55 education “cold spots” earmarked for support as part of its levelling-up agenda.

Areas where education outcomes are weakest, including Oldham, will see teachers offered a “levelling-up premium” to improve retention.

Schools in the Education Investment Areas which are judged less than “good” by Ofsted in successive inspections could be moved into multi-academy trusts under the plans.

Commenting on the announcement, Glyn Potts, the headteacher at Newman RC College, said he welcomed a levelling up plan that was “education led” but feared the proposals “lacked depth” and resembled a “resurrection” of previous announcements “wrapped up as levelling up.”

Mr Potts called being named an education “cold spot” an “insult” to the hard work and commitment carried out by those in the education profession who spend their lives serving the borough’s children.

He added that schools in Oldham are also “propping up” mental health and social services that are coming under strain due to a lack of funding.

Echoing his comments, Mark Giles, principal Hathershaw College, said:“There is a lot of good practice in education across Oldham but sadly also a lot of challenges to respond to, many of which are beyond our control without the funding to address them.

“Levelling up is meant to be about providing opportunities and not apportioning blame. Hathershaw is definitely not an education ‘cold spot’, far from it as Ofsted have recently reported.

"I am proud to have been educated in Oldham, to live in Oldham and to have sent my own children to comprehensive school in the town.”

The Hathershaw College was given an overall rating of ‘Good’ after an inspection by Ofsted in November.

Oldham Hulme Grammar School (OHGS) principal Craig Mairs added: "OHGS provides Oldham's bright young people with an opportunity to access excellent education regardless of their family or financial background.

“We are proudly diverse and truly reflect the Oldham community. Our bursary programme is stronger than ever, representing our own 'levelling up' programme.

“We welcome any plan, at local or national level, to improve the education and life outcomes for the young people of Oldham. In fact, OHGS is built on that very ethos. To have this reflected in the new Government Levelling Up White Paper is something we are pleased to see and will be watching develop closely."

Julie Hollis, chief executive of The Cranmer Education Trust which currently runs three schools in Oldham (soon to be four with the opening of The Brian Clarke C of E Academy this September) said: “Whilst The Cranmer Education Trust is already at the forefront of dealing with what is described as an educational “cold spot”, we welcome any package of support that will help to transform education and opportunities for the most disadvantaged.

“We are the home of the Teaching School Hub for Oldham and Tameside (the East Manchester Teaching School Hub), as well as a teacher training organisation (the Nexus SCITT), training 70 new teachers each year. We are also developing our school improvement offer through the new Cranmer Institute.

“Through these organisations we play a pivotal role in improving education and providing high quality professional development to teachers and education leaders in the town and beyond.

“Additionally, our new secondary school for Oldham, The Brian Clarke Academy, is providing an additional and much needed 240 new pupil places per year from this coming September. It will deliver a high-quality education for the young children of Oldham, with an aspirational curriculum underpinned by excellent teachers and pastoral provision.”