Council to discuss future of Birkenhead and Bebington schools

Jun 19 2008 By Lorna Hughes

COUNCILLORS will meet next week to discuss whether schools in Birkenhead and Bebington should be closed to reduce "surplus" places.

Wirral Council is required by the government and the Audit Commission to monitor surplus school places, keeping them below 10 per cent for the whole of the borough and below 25pc for any individual school.

Currently the overall surplus for secondary schools is 11pc and this figure is predicted to rise to 21pc by 2013.

Cabinet members will hear next Thursday how the next stage is to identify "options for consultation" to bring this figure down.

But the council says the situation is complicated by the potential establishment of an Academy at Birkenhead High School for Girls.

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 1 area."