A MILLENNIUM dream is set to come true for a Wirral school as it prepares to move into a brand new building.

Work is expected to start next Summer on a new building for Weatherhead High School, Wallasey.

The new building, in Breck Road, will replace the school's three present sites and has been welcomed as a 'once-in-a-lifetime' project by the school chairman of governors Mike Emberton.

Speaking at the annual awards evening, he said: "As this is the first new secondary school to be built in Wirral for many years it is not only special to Weatherhead but to the Wirral education authority, first as a showpiece school and secondly because it has been achieved under an education Private Finance Initiative."

He told the audience that contracts for the work should be signed next June and building work will start almost immediately.

It is hoped that sports facilities, including an all-weather pitch, will be included on the site for use by the school's 1,500-plus pupils.

Head teacher Sue Davies said: "There is some sadness at the thought of leaving the former Wallasey High School building which has stood since 1909 but it is our duty to look forward and to provide the best educational resources and facilities for our pupils.

"It is important that the fine traditions of our school's academic achievement and our philosophy and ethos should transfer to the new buildings."

Guest speaker at the awards evening was Prof Peter Toyne, vice chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University , who heard that exam results at all levels - including GCSE, 'A' levels and GNVQ - were exceeding the national average and improving every year.

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