Principal Designate appointed at EACT's Oldham Academy

Edutrust Academies Charitable Trust (EACT) and Oldham Council are pleased to announce the appointment of Colette Burgess as Principal Designate of Oldham’s new EACT Academy. The Academy, which is due to open in September 2010, is proposed to replace the Grange School.

 

The appointment of Colette, who is currently Deputy Head Teacher at Wardle High School, Rochdale marks a significant step towards the establishment of the new Academy. It was the unanimous decision of a panel consisting of representatives from EACT, student representatives from the Grange school, Oldham Council and the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

 

As Principal Designate, Colette’s first responsibility will be to work with existing staff at the Grange school to prepare for the opening of the new Academy, which will specialise in English with Foreign Languages and Visual Arts, in September 2010.

 

Sir Bruce Liddington, Director General of EACT, is delighted with the decision to appoint Colette to lead the EACT Academy:

 

“This appointment is excellent news and takes us much closer to the opening of what promises to be an outstanding Academy for Oldham. Colette Burgess has demonstrated strong leadership and an inspirational approach to learning in her career, and will be perfectly placed to lead the Academy forward into a successful future. Colette will work closely with staff, students, parents and the local community to plan and develop the new Academy. This work will ensure that it is developed to offer the very best educational opportunities for children and young people in Oldham”.

 

Colette Burgess said: “I believe passionately that all students should be given every opportunity to excel and to achieve their potential. The EACT Academy, Oldham will lead the way on inclusive, 21^st Century Learning and deliver a world class education to the young people of this area.

 

The new Academy will transform how we educate young people. It will be an exciting place to learn with an innovative and varied curriculum designed to nurture and motivate students, raise aspirations and deliver achievement for all.”

 

Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families Councillor Kay Knox said: “I’m delighted to be able to announce this appointment. We have in Colette Burgess an excellent Principal Designate with the expertise and experience to lead the development of an outstanding Academy. The EACT Academy will offer state-of-the-art, 21^st Century facilities, coming together with the knowledge and experience of an outstanding team to deliver a facility from which pupils, their families and the community will all benefit.