Radical investment plan for schools

• New plan to rebuild schools following axing of BSF
• Radical new concept in building at significantly lower cost
• First new building could open as early as 2013

LIVERPOOL has unveiled a radical alternative investment plan for its secondary schools following the cancellation of its Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

In summer 2010 the Government axed Wave Six of the scheme, which would have seen £350 million spent rebuilding or refurbishing each school in the city.

Council Leader Joe Anderson subsequently commissioned a Task Force to look at a rescue package to see how the city could deliver more for less in the absence of previous levels of Government funding.

This piece of work has now been completed, and the city is now bringing forward an alternative set of proposals over two phases. The first is targeted at eight schools which are most in need, based around:

• Improving education
• Boosting the local economy
• Building stronger local communities

The proposals include an exciting new design concept never before seen in the UK or Europe for three of the schemes called EdVenture, which can be delivered for around half the cost of BSF schools.

Schools are built under a structure similar to a modern airport terminal building, which is far cheaper than the traditional method. It offers more flexibility as the internal layout and even the entire use of the site can be changed in the future.

Council Leader Joe Anderson said: “When the Government axed our Building Schools for the Future programme, we were determined to find an alternative way forward to make sure our youngsters get the best possible start in life.

“I would like to thank Max Steinberg and the Task Force for their hard work over the last year, and I am pleased that the city council is now in a position to bring forward some firm, deliverable proposals for consideration.   

“We have addressed some of the key concerns of Government around the cost of Building Schools for the Future by coming up with an innovative alternative for constructing schools which gives huge flexibility at a much lower cost.

“We believe that by working with all of the possible partners such as schools, the Dioceses and private developers, together with the sale of sites we can deliver Phase One of the programme.

“However, if we want to complete Phase Two as well we will need financial assistance from the Government so we will be doing our utmost to convince the Department for Education that it deserves a contribution from Whitehall.”

Max Steinberg, Co-Chair of the BSF Task Force, said: “Throughout our deliberations, the Task Force has tried to ensure that proposals would be built around delivering educational excellence and improving the city’s economic prosperity, rather than just a simplistic response to the funding reductions.

“We are recommending a radical alternative school building programme to respond to the cancelled BSF Wave Six proposals.

“We have adopted a positive and practical approach to the issue, and I am pleased that the City Council is now in a position to be able to move forward.”

The EdVenture schemes are:

• Archbishop Beck Catholic High School relocated to Long Lane with an option of co-locating with a special school. Start date: Autumn 2012 with opening in Autumn 2013

• St JohnBosco Arts Collegeon the Stonebridge Cross development with the possibility of it becoming co-educational and with an option of co-locating with a special school. Start date: Dependent upon wider Stonebridge Cross scheme

• Notre Dame Catholic College on a new site adjacent to Everton Park Sports Centre on Great Homer Street as part of the wider Project Jennifer regeneration scheme. Start date: June 2012 with opening in autumn 2013

Frances Harrison, Headteacher at Notre Dame Catholic College, said: “A new school building is exciting news for Notre Dame Catholic College, not only vastly improving the opportunities available to our young people but also in providing the space and quality of environment that enables us to serve our local community in a way we haven’t been able to previously.

“A total of 82 percent of our students come from within two miles of our new building’s location, signifying that this regeneration will create local facilities for local people.

“The building will enrich the community with a space that can grow and prosper along with the area and its inhabitants, securing a better future for our neighbourhood.

“Sustainable developments such as our proposed allotment gardens will transform the green space of our area into a hub of positive activity for both pupils and the community, where we can all work together to benefit the welfare of these young people and provide them with the best possible prospects.”

The other proposals are:

• Holly Lodge Girls College to be partially rebuilt through construction of new buildings and disposing of the front half of the site. Start date: 2013 with opening in 2015

• Relocating Archbishop Blanch Church of England High School and St Hilda’s Church of England High School on the Edge Lane corridor as part of the wider regeneration of the area. The Governors of St Hilda’s may also consult on becoming co-educational. Start date: Early 2013 with opening in 2015

• Rebuild and co-locate St Julie’s Catholic High School with SFX (St Francis Xavier’s) College on the Beaconsfield campus with a shared sixth form. Start date: 2015 with completion in 2017

A consultation is now getting underway for schools, parents and pupils and other interested parties to give their views. 

The form can be downloaded from www.liverpool.gov.uk, or views can be emailed to bsf@liverpool.gov.uk until 29 October 2011.

A separate consultation with Redbridge, Bank View, Sandfield Park, Palmerston and Abbots Lea Special Schools to establish how their requirements could be integrated into Phase One of the programme will be carried out over the next few months.

Further schemes, as part of a phase two, could take place after 2015 to:

• Refurbish Clifford Holroyde Special School and Abbots Lea Special School
• Rebuild St Margaret’s Church of England High School
• Refurbish Bellerive Catholic College
• Refurbish The Bluecoat