Action to help Parklands School in Speke. (Garston and Halewood Liberal Democrats)

Garston and Halewood Liberal Democrats <info@garstonld.org.uk>

Action to help Parklands School in Speke.

January 15, 2009 12:00 AM

Liverpool city council is putting forward proposals for Parklands High School in Speke which would see it team up with one of the country's most successful schools - The Blue Coat in Wavertree.

It would see Parklands becoming the first National Challenge Trust School in the city, securing up to an additional £1 million in government funding over the next three years.

And it would pave the way for educational standards to be raised across at the school, with Blue Coat sharing their resources, teacher training and management expertise.

Parklands, which is located in one of the most deprived areas of the country, was placed in special measures in 2008 after only 1% of pupils gained five A*-C GCSEs including English and Maths - way below the government's National Challenge target of 30%.

The school showed a massive improvement in the 2008 GCSEs, with the figure rising to 15%, but is still below the national target.

The plans are part of the council's commitment to securing the future of the school, driving up attainment beyond the National Challenge target and ensuring children in Speke can benefit from a first class education.

Councillor Keith Turner, the city council's executive member for children's services, said: "The Speke community is more isolated than most in the city and young people have no alternative secondary schools within the vicinity - that's why it's vital we invest in it.

"These proposals will build on the progress Parklands is making and secure a brighter future for the school. Blue Coat is one of the most successful schools in the region, and in the top 100 schools in the country.

"In partnership with the council, Blue Coat is committed to providing support and leadership to Parklands."

The Government's National Challenge Trust status involves successful schools forming partnerships with those who are not doing so well to improve results and drive up standards. They take over the management of their partner schools, share expertise and work with staff to improving teaching methods.

Before a school can be considered to become a National Challenge Trust school, it must demonstrate to the government that it has robust leadership and management procedures in place.

As part of the proposal, the council will replace the existing governing body at the school with a council-appointed Interim Executive Board (IEB) of Governors. It will include educational experts, teachers and some of the existing governors to oversee the transition to becoming a National Challenge Trust school.

If the plan is approved it will pave the way for Parklands to become a National Challenge Trust school by September 2009.

Under the plans, the Blue Coat would take responsibility for the leadership and governance of the new National Challenge Trust school at Parklands.

Stuart Smith, the city council's executive director for children, schools and families said: "We have been working closely with Governors, the headteacher and teaching staff at Parklands in recent years to improve standards - and progress is being made.

"Parklands is an improving National Challenge school and the partnership with Blue Coat School would give it an extra push to help it fully meet the needs of local children. The government supports the National Challenge Trust approach and we believe that going down this route will give the school the additional help it needs to become successful."

The city's most successful school, the Liverpool Blue Coat is the only grammar school in Liverpool. In September 2008, it became fully co-educational.

The plans, which need approval from the Secretary of State, will be subject to statutory consultation during 2009.

The Executive Board will consider the proposal on Friday, January 23.