Liverpool given BSF funding

Released 05/03/2010

Liverpool schools to benefit from £350m funds

The government has approved Liverpool city council's proposals for 'Wave 6' of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, meaning work can now get underway on the next phase of the largest ever investment in the city's education.

The £350 million plan will see 24 Liverpool secondary schools being rebuilt or refurbished, in five phases by 2017, providing every young person in the city with a 21st century secondary education and boosting standards and opportunities.

Liverpool City Council leader, councillor Warren Bradley, said: "Building Schools for the Future is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and I'm delighted the government has given our plans the go-ahead. It's great news for Liverpool and paves the way for us to transform education at every secondary school in the city.

"Liverpool's future prosperity rests on the shoulders of our young people. It's vital we provide them with first-class, 21st century education facilities, which help them develop as confident, skilled, job-ready individuals. At the heart of our plans is a firm commitment to improve opportunities and outcomes for every pupil."

In addition to the 24 schools which fall under Wave 6, there will be a new joint faith Academy in South Liverpool, with New Heys Community Comprehensive, Allerton merging with St Benedicts Catholic College, Garston, on the site of St Benedicts. Supported by Enterprise plc and the University of Liverpool, the new business and enterprise academy with a Christian ethos will be the first of its kind in the country.

Liverpool City Council's executive director for children's services, Stuart Smith, said: "Education in this city has improved beyond recognition in recent years, with the city now above the national GCSE average and improving its grades at four times the national rate. Building Schools for the Future gives us a great opportunity to further build on this and secure brighter futures for generations of young people.

"It's vital that we fully capitalise on this fantastic opportunity, and we believe that the proposals we have put in place will help us achieve just that. We are committed to making sure everyone is on-board with these exciting plans and we will be consulting fully with schools and the wider community."

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