No academy school for Wirral South

Oct 14 2008 By Matt Hurst

MINISTER of State for Schools and Learners, Jim Knight MP has told the House of Commons there are no plans to introduce an academy school in south Wirral.

Wirral South MP, Ben Chapman stood up in Parliament today (October 14) to ask the Secretary of State whether "there are plans to introduce an academy school in Wirral South constituency".

The question comes just days after proposals were mooted to combine Birkenhead based Park High and Rock Ferry High Schools into a new £30m academy institution.

Consultation over that scheme is said to be ongoing but it appears no such plan will be exercised in the south of the borough.

In response to Ben Chapman MP's question, minister and South Dorset MP, Jim Knight, told assembled representatives: "My department is not aware of any plans to introduce an academy school in the Wirral South constituency". 

Academy schools are publicly funded but independently operated, meaning they are outside the control of the local authorities in which they operate.