Uncertainty for the future of Wirral schoools (From Wirral Globe)

Uncertainty for the future of Wirral schoools

1:38pm Tuesday 24th June 2008 in News By Staff reporter

COUNCILLORS will be meeting this week to decide what happens next in the review of secondary school places in Birkenhead and Bebington.

Wirral Council is required by law to monitor surplus school places, keeping them below 10% for the whole of the borough and below 25% for any individual school.

At present, the overall surplus percentage for secondary schools is 11%, with predictions that it will rise to 21% by 2013.

At the cabinet meeting on Thursday night, members will hear how the next stage is the identification of options for consultation in the "Phase One" area to bring that surplus down.

But the situation has been complicated by the potential establishment of an academy at Birkenhead High School for Girls and the recent introduction of the National Challenge by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

The "Challenge" insists that by 2011, 30% of pupils in every secondary school will leave with five or more good GCSEs, including English and mathematics.

If a school does not meet the target, it will be classed as "failing."

Councillor Phil Davies, cabinet member for children's services and lifelong learning, said: "If Birkenhead High School is successful in its bid to become an academy, this is likely to impact on both secondary and primary schools in the area.

"On this basis it seems prudent to await the outcome of the feasibility stage of the academy process and further details on the National Challenge before making any recommendations for options to proceed to consultation in the Phase One area."