Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet has this evening approved the site for a new girls’ secondary school which will also see the much-loved African Caribbean Centre being preserved.
Following February’s Cabinet meeting, when members approved to release the council-owned land to the Department for Education (DfE) for the Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, the decision was called in and referred to the Culture and Economy Scrutiny Committee for further discussion.
As a result of that discussion, the scrutiny committee asked cabinet to review its original decision and give a stronger commitment to the African Caribbean Centre to remain on its current site.
At tonight’s Cabinet meeting, held at Liverpool Town Hall, members heard that previous plans that informed that decision have now been fully reviewed.
As a result, some additional land, close to the former St Margaret of Antioch School, has been identified that will increase the area of the proposed site. There is also the possibility of using part of the nearby Princes School site, on Selborne Street, for non-teaching uses as there is a plan for this school to be relocated from 2027.
Consequently, a way forward was approved by Cabinet that will see the African Caribbean Centre building preserved and a substantial amount of the land currently used by the Centre be excluded from any site agreed for the creation of the new girls’ school.
The council will now seek to hold talks with the African Caribbean Centre’s Trustees and community representatives of the centre following this evening’s decision, which will be led by the Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Services, Councillor Liz Parsons.
Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “I again express the Council’s absolute commitment to supporting a vibrant future for the African Caribbean Centre, for many years to come.
“The community has sent a clear message that they want it to remain on the current site, and the council has listened and shares that commitment.
“The review of the plans has shown it is possible to deliver the girls school and secure a future for the centre on the same site. We now look forward to engaging with the community representatives to explore the options in more detail.”
The opening of the Eden Girls Leadership Academy, by Star Academies, has been made under the previous government’s Free Schools Programme, and will eventually provide 600 places across Years 7– 11 and 200 places years 12-13. Up to 50 per cent of the school places will be reserved for Muslim girls and the remainder will be available for girls of other faiths and non-faith.
