LIVERPOOL will become home to a new secondary school after the Department for Education approved plans to open a new free school.
Star Academies will open the 800-place Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy for pupils aged 11-18 and it is one of 15 new schools nationally approved under the government’s free schools programme. The multi-academy trust runs 31 schools across the country.
During its opening year, the new school will admit an intake of 120 pupils in Year 7. The school will continue to admit a new intake of Year 7 pupils at the beginning of each academic year. Once open, its sixth form will have a capacity of 200 places.
The school will offer a broad and balanced academic curriculum along with a diverse leadership programme to inspire its pupils to engage in charitable activity and social action.
The school will also be the city’s first school to have a Muslim faith designation. However, it will not operate a faith-based admissions policy and will welcome children of all faiths and none.
The construction of the school is funded by the government with Liverpool City Council being responsible for identifying a site for the school.
Cllr Lila Bennett, Cabinet Member for Employment, Educational Attainment and Skills, said: “The decision by the DfE that Star Academies has been successful in its application to open a new secondary school in Liverpool will support the city to provide sufficient school places in the coming years.
“The council will continue to work with partners towards identifying a suitable site for the school.”
Sir Hamid Patel CBE, chief executive of Star Academies, said: “Wherever they live and whatever their background, children deserve a high quality education. We are delighted that our application to open a new secondary school has been approved. Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Liverpool will help to unlock the potential of thousands of young people in Merseyside.
“The government’s free schools programme continues to inject innovation and creativity into the school system. We’re delighted our new school will be part of the latest programme and we look forward to working with our local partners and communities to enable more young people in Liverpool to receive the quality of education and aspirational opportunities they deserve.”
