PARENTS are set to suffer a late-summer headache due a school blunder.

That is the view of Walkden South councillor Ian Lindley after education bosses revealed hundreds of pupils from a Walkden school must start the next academic year 19 days late, leaving parents carrying the can.

St George’s High School in Parsonage Drive, Walkden, is closing for good at the end of this term and pupils will transfer to St Ambrose Barlow RC High School’s Wardley site.

A new extension is being built to accommodate the extra pupils. St Ambrose headteacher Marie Garside has now written to parents of year 8 and year 9 pupils to say they will start the new academic year on September 22.

Cllr Lindley said: “This is an absolute shambles and a final insult to those pupils who would have otherwise been attending St George’s in September.

“It will also be a real headache for working parents, especially those on low incomes, to arrange childcare.

“I have asked for urgent answers about what support is available.”