THE founder of the Allsports retail chain has been revealed as one of the sponsors of a planned new all-boys academy in Wirral.

The proposal would see one mixed sex academy and one boys academy serving current pupils at Park High, Rock Ferry High and Ridgeway High schools, in Birkenhead. The single sex boys academy will have sports’ entrepreneur David Hughes as its sponsor, along with the University of Liverpool, Birkenhead Sixth Form College and Wirral Council as its supporting sponsors.

The mixed academy lead sponsor has been named as the University of Chester with Wirral Metropolitan College, and the local authority as supporting sponsors.

A formal press conference is to be held later today, but David Hughes, lead sponsor of the boys academy, said he was “delighted to have the opportunity” to become the lead sponsor for the new boys’ academy in Birkenhead.

He said: “The academy will strive to set new standards of achievement by the youth of our town with the active involvement of the wider community.”

The academies proposal has been welcomed by educational experts, teachers and politicians.

The final decision on the new schools is still subject to a consultation process with parents, pupils, staff and others, but it could see two new multi-million pound schools in the borough in less than two years.

Cllr Phil Davies, Wirral’s cabinet member for Children’s Services and Lifelong Learning, said: “This is an extremely exciting development and the council is very pleased to be working alongside our partners to give young people in Birkenhead the top-class facilities they have always deserved.”

The move follows earlier plans for one academy to serve Rock Ferry High and Park High pupils.

Since then, Birkenhead High School for Girls has been given the go-ahead on its academy plans.