AFTER a long campaign, Conservative MP for Bury South, Christian Wakeford, has welcomed the news that a new high school will be built in Radcliffe as part of the latest wave of the Government’s free school programme.

Radcliffe, with around 30,000 residents, has been without its own high school since 2014 resulting in children being forced to travel miles to get their education.

The successful school bid was sponsored by Star Academies, which oversees 28 other schools, and will be built on the site of the former Radcliffe Riverside School on Spring Lane.

"If I could pick one of election pledges that I wanted to achieve it was this school," said Mr Wakeford. "It's certainly going in the win column.

"It was hearing all the stories about how children were having to get up early to travel miles to a school outside the Borough or at the opposite end of the Borough that reminded me of my own school bus journeys when I was 12 miles away and had to go down all the country roads."

Through his campaign, the MP gathered a petition of 3,076 signatures, which he presented to the Secretary of State for Education during the summer.

"It is the kick start Radcliffe needs," he said. "All of a sudden you have 600 kids and potentially twice that number of parents coming through the town. At the moment you look out at empty shops and charity shops, but this is the big impetus we need to make sure the town is thriving.

"We are so fortunate that the location is close to the town centre so that wherever you are in Radcliffe you can be there in a matter of minutes. It is a really exciting prospect for the town moving forward."

Mr Wakeford said he hoped there was an opportunity for the whole community to benefit from the new school's facilities.

"I know Radcliffe Borough are looking at the possibility of being a sporting partner so it is really exciting time," he said. "This is a strong message from the Government that they are helping towns like Radcliffe.

The MP was also full of praise for Star Academies who will operate the new school.

"I have heard nothing but positive things about them," said Mr Wakeford. "In my Lancashire County Council days I came across a lot of their schools and they had either turned them around or set up new ones which are thriving.

"If we can emulate what they do in every free school the Department of Education would be very happy. Free schools can be controversial when they are forced, but they are forced because they are needed when a school is coasting or it is failing. If I could have every school as an academy and remove that local authority control I would. I am a big fan and feel they give far more freedom to teachers."

With hopes growing that schools can reopen at the start of March, Mr Wakeford added his thanks to the many teachers, staff and parents who have been home schooling recently.

"It's been a very challenging time for everyone," he added. "I am hopeful schools can go back on March 8 and from every conversation I've had with Number 10 they are so confident that they can meet their vaccination target and if we hit that target schools will be opening."