A PRESTIGIOUS Merseyside school has unveiled a £5m overhaul of its buildings which officials stress “underlines our confidence in the future”.

Behind the multi-million pound overhaul is fee-paying Merchant Taylors’ School in Crosby which dates back to 1620.

The announcement that it intends to give its infant and junior girls’ school provision a major facelift comes amid major announcements from private sector neighbours.

Only last week The Post revealed how independent Streatham House School in Blundellsands, was set to end its fee-paying status and become a centrally-funded free school by September 2013.

Its decision is being driven by a desire to open up to more children and build on its links with theatre and the performing arts.

And this summer Mossley Hill-based Liverpool College, one of the city’s oldest schools, confirmed it will scrap its fees next year and become a government-funded academy.

It followed its own research that found there was a “shrinking” number of parents able to pay.

Announcing the plans for the £5m upgrade of Stanfield, Merchant Taylors’ mixed infants and junior girls’ school, chairman of governors Professor Peter Batey said the investment cemented the schools confidence for a healthy future and its ability to remain at the forefront of education in the North West

He said: “We are delighted to announce these plans and hope that, subject to planning approval, the full redevelopment will be completed by Easter 2015.

“Merchant Taylors’ was established in 1620 and will celebrate its 400th anniversary in 2020. This new build underlines our confidence in the future and, with our current vision of improvement, will ensure that the schools remain as strong for many more years to come as well as providing state of the art facilities for our current pupils.”

Stanfield includes pre-fab buildings dating back to the 70s.

Bringing the school into the 21century the upgrade will incorporate a new large hall, several classrooms, resource rooms, practice rooms and a dedicated library as well as a fully-equipped medical room and other rooms for art, music and drama.

The school stresses it will combine the existing traditional buildings with “modern styles that are low maintenance and offer high energy efficiency”.

An application has been submitted to Sefton planners and if approved work will begin in July 2013.

It marks the next stage in the school’s “strategic 2020 Vision” to upgrade its facilities, following on from the new £5.5m Ian Robinson Sports Centre in December last year.