New Holly Lodge building named after women’s rights campaigner

The new-look Holly Lodge Girls’ College in Liverpool is being officially dedicated to the person who won women the right to vote.

The ‘Emmeline Pankhurst Building’, which is being officially opened on Friday 6 March, forms the centrepiece of a £7 million revamp of the school site. It houses a main teaching block built comprising new humanities classrooms, arts, music and drama spaces including an activity hall, and a Sixth Form centre with a central atrium and café area.

At the opening, pupils will focus on Pankhurst’s life and legacy ahead of International Women’s Day this coming weekend, and will read extracts from famous women’s rights speeches.

VIDEO: Watch the opening event

 

Headteacher Julia Tinsley said: “Staff and students are equally proud to have such fantastic facilities and are enjoying teaching and learning in 21st century surroundings at last.

“Not only is the building itself bringing a smile to the lips of our school community but its position at the heart of the school is making life more comfortable for students at lesson change, break and lunchtime.

“We have been really anxious to make sure that the new buildings enhance the beautiful campus on which the school is built, and maintain the unique character of Holly Lodge.

“It is also a much more environmentally friendly school, costing us less to heat, maintain and repair.”

Head Julia Tinsley with pupils
Head Julia Tinsley with pupils

The development forms part of the Liverpool Schools Investment Programme, devised as a rescue package following the scrapping of Wave Six of Liverpool’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project, and one of the Mayor of Liverpool’s key pledge.

The funding, a combination of city council and Government money, was negotiated as part of Liverpool’s City Deal, and is seeing at least 12 schools receive investment – with work on 10 already underway or complete.

The aim at Holly Lodge has been to reduce the number of school buildings, some of which were over 100 years old and unsuited to delivering a modern curriculum.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “This investment in Holly Lodge Girls’ College has been much needed to make sure pupils get the most out of their learning.

“Less than three years since we started work on the Schools Investment Programme, this is the 10th scheme that is either complete or underway transforming the education for many thousands of our young people.”

The scheme includes a small extension to the existing sports hall with new administrative offices, and a new look reception located along Mill Lane.

There is also a new half-sized floodlit artificial grass pitch which is available to the local community.

The new building is arranged in proximity to the five buildings which are being retained, greatly reducing lost teaching time as a result of pupils having to walk long distances between lessons.

The work has been carried out by Kier Construction, with 85 percent of it subcontracted to firms in Liverpool and a further nine percent to those in the city region.

More than 100 apprenticeships have also been created so far through the schools investment programme.

Liverpool Waterfront