The Council is rightly proud of education in Wirral. Teachers, governors, parents and pupils all play a part in this success. To provide the best education for children the LA must make sure money spent on education is used in the best possible way. This means spending money on real children, not on empty places.
The Council has to review its school places to make sure that across Wirral, empty or surplus places stay below 10%. It also has to consider taking action when a school has 25% or more surplus places.
It is right that there should be some surplus places for parental choice. However, in Wirral the number of secondary age children is falling. This means that some schools are getting smaller, producing a significant surplus of empty places.
Also, each school needs enough pupils to pay its costs in full. When pupil numbers become too low, the school is at risk of financial problems, and may have to cut back spending on staff and other resources. It also puts more pressure on teachers because they have to take on additional responsibilities.
The number of empty places in some local secondary schools in parts of Wirral is far too high. The Council must take action to reduce this number of empty places.
There will be an on-going programme looking at every area of Wirral over the next few years. The first phase of the Secondary Places Review is looking at Birkenhead and Bebington.
The current consultations are to help decide what changes should be made to reduce surplus places at schools in these areas.
Feedback Form for Consultations
Frequently Asked Questions on Academies (FAQ) (Word Format)
External Links
Foundation and Trust status - more information
Federation - a guide for parents
Current Consultations
Closure of Park High School and Rock Ferry High School
We would like to hear your views about the following proposal:
To close Park High and Rock Ferry High Schools on 31st August 2011 in order to open a new Academy on 1st September 2011.
The Council considers that the proposal is in the best interests of children, parents and staff at both Park High School and Rock Ferry High School and within the Birkenhead area as a whole. This proposal would bring together the two schools to create a single Academy to serve the Birkenhead area, increasing the opportunities for, and raising the performance of, all students in this area. The Governing Bodies at both schools have voted to support the development of an Academy in principle.
The sponsors backing the Academy are as follows;
- University of Chester (lead sponsor),
- Birkenhead Sixth Form College (co-sponsor)
- University of Liverpool (co-sponsor)
- Wirral Metropolitan College (co-sponsor)
- Wirral Council (also a co-sponsor).
The Closure Consultation
By law, Wirral Council as the local authority must consult on the closure of the two secondary schools separately from the consultation on the establishment of the new Academy, although the two consultations will take place at the same time.
The closure consultation will run until 7th April 2010.
Consultation document
Expression of Interest
FAQ about Academies
Meetings for parents and directly interested parties
These meetings are for people who might be directly affected by the options, like parents, staff and governors, to have their say about the proposal.
| School |
Date |
| Park High School |
7pm, Tuesday 9th March 2010 |
| Rock Ferry High School |
7pm, Thursday, 11th March 2010 |
These events are about the closure of the two schools. The Academy lead sponsor will also attend. This means that you will be able to hear about the proposal to close Park High and Rock Ferry High in order to open the new Academy, and the exciting proposal that is being developed for the Academy.
The meeting is an opportunity for parents, staff, governors and other people directly related to the school to have their views heard and noted by senior staff from the Department of Children’s Services and the Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Lifelong Learning.
People associated with other local schools, and members of the public who want to, can write in with their views. Anyone who wants to can write and say what they think.
The closing date for written and e-mailed comments is: WEDNESDAY 7th APRIL 2010
Review of schools in Birkenhead and Bebington
School Consultations on change of status
These consultations are operated by the governing body of the school.
Responses to the consultation should be made directly to the school concerned.
Pensby High School for Girls and Pensby High School for Boys -
Consultation on Hard Federation - ends 19th March 2010
Hilbre High School Humanities College Final consultation on change of status from Community to Foundation with a Trust - ends 14th October 2009
Woodchurch High School Preliminary consultation on change of status from Community to Foundation with a Trust - ends 16th October 2009
Closed Consultations - For information only
Hilbe High School Humanities College Preliminary consultation on change of status from Community to Foundation - ends 14th January 2009
Weatherhead High School Media Arts College Final consultation on change of status from Community to Foundation with Trust - ends 19th June 2009
Bebington High Sports College - Final consultation on change of status from Community to Foundation with a Trust - ended 10th December 2008.
Woodchurch High School - Preliminary consultation on change of status from Community to Foundation with a Trust - ends 4th July 2008
Calday Grange Grammar School - Final consultation on change of status from Foundation to Foundation with a Trust - ends 23rd June 2008
South Wirral High School - Final Consultation on change of status from Community to Foundation - ended 14th April 2008.
Ridgeway High School - Final Consultation on change of status from Community to Foundation - ended 29th January 2008.
West Kirby Grammar School for Girls - Final consultation on change of status from Community to Foundation - ended 31st December 2007.
Wirral Grammar School for Girls - Final consultation on change of status from Community to Foundation - ended 26th December 2007.
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