The Oasis Academy Oldham will be built on the site of the former Brook Mill, with playing fields to be located on the old Oak Colliery site.

Plans for the new Oasis Academy building, which replaced the former South Chadderton and Kaskenmoor high schools, were confirmed by the Department for Education last month and preparatory work is set to begin on site next month.

Following construction and fit out the project is due to be finished in time for opening in September 2012.

Councillor Jack Hulme, Cabinet Member for Children and Families, said: “The signing of this contract is extremely positive news and it enables parents, staff and pupils to look forward with confidence to the opening of the Academy on a new site in September 2012.”

Willmott Dixon was selected in March to build three new Academies in the Borough.

The programme also includes the new Waterhead Academy, sponsored by Oldham College, at Orb Mill to replace Counthill and Breeze Hill schools, and the Oldham Academy North, the E-ACT sponsored Academy on the current site of Our Lady’s, Royton replacing Grange School.