PUPILS in Radcliffe were turned away from school this week as building work had not been completed.

Construction work at the Coney Green site of the new Radcliffe Riverside School had not been finished in time for the new school year on Monday (Sept 6).

As the youngsters turned up to start the term, they were told to go home and return on Thursday.

Radcliffe Riverside is the new school created by the amalgamation of Coney Green Technology College and Radcliffe High School. Building work at the Spring Lane site has been ongoing throughout the holidays to accommodate an increase in pupil numbers.

A spokesman for the council said: "We met with the governing body last week and agreed a number of measures to deal with the delay, and letters were sent to parents to inform them of the situation. We have worked with the contractors to minimise the delay.

"Because of the sheer number of schemes that are under way in schools in the summer holiday period, there are inevitably some that are not completed by the start of term. Many of these are manageable, with little or no impact on pupils, but others are more problematic and sometimes necessitate the school opening late.

"Any decision to keep the school closed is taken reluctantly, and only if all other options have been exhausted."

Pupils attending the West Campus -- formerly Radcliffe High School -- have been unaffected.

Mrs Diana Morton, executive headteacher of Radcliffe Riverside School, said she was very disappointed that children had to be sent home on the first day.

She said: "It is very disappointing for children and staff who planned to start back earlier this week. We have done everything to bring the two schools together and we have all known about this scheme for a long time.

"The children came in on Friday last week and we had to restrict where they could go in the school. We were assured by the council that teachers would be able to go into the school to prepare by Sunday evening.

"But this was not possible and on Monday, the chairman of governors from the school asked someone from the Competitive Services department, who have been the project managers, to come down to the site and have a look for themselves.

"The areas that are unfinished have had to be tidied for the health and safety of the children and staff, and the work will stop while children come into school. But workmen will have to return at the weekend to finish the work."