Two Wirral girls’ grammar schools to seek foundation status

Dec 8 2007 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

WIRRAL’S two girls’ grammar schools are aiming to take themselves out of local authority control and become foundations instead.

Wirral Grammar School for Girls and West Kirby Grammar have both announced they will be seeking the new status, with effect from September 2009.

It would mean the schools will be able to own their land and buildings and be independent of the local education authority in deciding admission arrange-ments.

Both grammar schools are already selective, and this move would mean they will follow the lead of Calday Grange and Wirral Grammar School for boys, which are already foundation schools.

Foundation Schools own their land and buildings, and the governing body employs the school's staff and is the admission authority.

This is very similar to the position in aided schools, but without the denominational element – and just as in all other schools, the school must comply with the admissions code, follow the National Curriculum and the SEN code of practice.

Wirral council’s cabinet member for education, Cllr Phil Davies, said he hoped the schools would continue to work closely with the LEA.

But he also sounded a note of caution for Wirral Grammar School for girls which has had work carried out under the Private Finance Initiative.

This means the buildings are owned by the successor to the ill-fated Jarvis which initially carried out work on the school buildings, but was subsequently replaced.

Cllr Davies said legal issues about the property ownership would need to be cleared up.

He added: “My own view is that we give an excellent service to schools which come under the LEA’s umbrella.

“And we will still work closely with these schools, so I do not think it will be a huge change.”

Headteacher of Wirral Grammar for Girls, Elaine Cogan, also said she expected there would be little change in the way the school operates and they would continue to work closely with the LEA.

She added: “We are reacting to Government thinking.

“The Government is very keen for schools to move to foundation or trust status.”

Mrs Cogan also said their PFI contract would continue to be honoured and at the end of the 25- year period would be signed back over to the school rather than the LEA.

The consultation period for both schools is taking place and it is expected other schools in the borough will be likely to follow suit.

Mrs Cogan added: “There has been no vote to become a foundation yet.

“At the moment, the governors are discussing it with parents and there will be no vote until the consultation finishes at the end of January.”

liammurphy