Issue - meetings

Kingsway School - PFI Update

Meeting: 23/11/2021 - Children, Young People & Education Committee (Item 58)

58 Kingsway School - PFI Update pdf icon PDF 98 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Assistant Chief Executive introduced the report of the Director of Children, Families and Education which provided an overview of the options available to explore the future use of the former Kingsway High School, Wallasey. It was reported that the school was part of the Wirral PFI schools’ contract that was signed in 2001 and not 2007 as outlined in the report, which allowed for the significant refurbishment and new build of nine schools across the local authority. Kingsway Academy closed in August 2018 and had remained empty since. Options in relation to the school building use had been explored at the end of 2019, of which one of these was the possibility of Clare Mount School moving to The Kingsway School building. Options outlined had not been developed further due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Members noted the urgency to find an alternative use of the site given the cost to maintain it empty and urged officers to explore uses such as for 16-19 provision given the projected rising population in the age group. Whilst it was confirmed that whilst the site had to be used for educational provision, it was possible for part of the site to be used for education with other services delivered from other areas. Further information was sought on whether the Published Admission Number for Clare Mount School would increase if the school were to move to the Kingsway site.

 

Resolved – That

 

(1)  the different options available for the use of The Kingsway Academy site be noted.

(2)  a full feasibility assessment of The Kingsway School site including the possibility of moving Clare Mount school into the site be supported.