Wirral Council u-turn on Ridgeway High School closure plan

Nov 27 2009 By Liam Murphy

Wirral 320

WIRRAL Council last night abandoned its unpopular plan to shut a Birkenhead school as part of proposals to create two new academies in the town.

The authority's ruling cabinet made the "pragmatic" decision following the massive campaign against the closure of Ridgeway High School by parents, pupils and staff.

Last night the Conservatives were calling the changes "an embarrassing u-turn" for the Labour and Lib-Dem led authority.

Proposals for a "three into two" model, closing Park High, Rock Ferry High and Ridgeway are to be replaced with a "two into one" approach, amalgamating Rock Ferry High and Park High schools to create a mixed academy.

The meeting at Wallasey Town Hall was told the proposal to create an all-boys academy would be dropped, and Ridgeway allowed to remain open.

The council will now try to decide where to locate the new academy, either at the current Park High School or near Borough Road playing fields, site of one of the now defunct all-boys academy.

Cabinet member for education, Cllr Phil Davies, said it was a "pragmatic decision, based on the clear view from Ridgeway that they do not want to be part of these options".

He said: "We are not going to force the school to close and be part of a review which they now no longer wish to be involved in.

"Between now and the next cabinet on December 9 we will hold meetings with the other two schools - Rock Ferry and Park High - and residents around Borough Road playing fields and the Shaftesbury Youth Club to try to get a steer as to which of the sites would be the better option."