LIVERPOOL’S Blue Coat school is to become a centrally-funded academy from the start of March.
Confirming the conversion officials at the prestigious 303-year-old school stressed its ethos, character, name and entry test selection policy will remain unchanged.
Academies can set their own curriculum and money can be spent on their own priorities without council-wide schemes taking a share.
Grammar schools do not have to change their name and entry tests and admission policies can be retained.
Governors believe the Academy switch will safeguard the school’s reputation for academic excellence by giving greater control over finances.
Headteacher Debbie Silcock said academy status would allow the school to fund its own academic priorities while retaining and attracting the best staff.
However, unions oppose academies believing they are not democratically accountable and take money away from council-run schools.
