Builders get to work on schools projects worth £33m

Mar 1 2008 by Ben Schofield, Liverpool Daily Post

WORK has finally begun on two flagship educational centres in Merseyside, representing a combined £33m worth of investment.

In St Helens, Cowley Language Centre is being completely rebuilt and yesterday pupils joined Cllr Shirley Evans, executive member for children and young people’s services, as they cut the first sod on the £21m educational centre of excellence.

In Sefton, a major new sixth form centre will be built along Sterrix Lane, Litherland, following a £11.8m grant from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

Due to open in September 2009, the building is in response to Government reports saying there was an “overriding” case for a new sixth form centre in the area.

Special guests Joe Benton MP and Cllr Peter Dowd, Sefton Council’s cabinet member for children’s services, joined regional LSC director John Korzeniewski at a sod cutting ceremony.

Cllr Dowd said: “Work on site gives something tangible to what, until now, has been about meetings, planning and other hard work behind the scenes.

“From now on though, people will be able to see this fantastic and exciting new college rising from the ground.”

Mr Benton added: “The people of Bootle, Netherton and Litherland deserve the best educational institutions and the new centre will offer great opportunities – particularly to those who will be studying academic courses and going on to university.

“In just over a year from now, there will be a modern and, I understand, environmentally friendly building on this site.” In St Helens, the new Cowley Language Centre is part funded by Building Schools for the Future’s (BSF) bid to create schools fit for the 21st century.

Initial plans would have seen the new centre confined to its current site but the additional BSF funding has allowed for the rebuilding of the school nearby, with a state- of-the-art sixth form centre at the current Hard Lane location.