Liverpool schools: Building work starts on £75m plan

Firms across Merseyside will benefit from the school-building contracts

Work has started on the first of 12 new schools to be built across Liverpool in a £75m council investment plan.

The project was drawn up by Liverpool City Council after the government scrapped its Building Schools for the Future programme.

Notre Dame Catholic College is first to benefit with a new building next to Everton Park Lifestyles Centre.

At least half of the £15m building contract will be spent with firms based in the city.

Seventy per cent of the contract will go to companies across Merseyside, dozens of local apprentices will be employed and councillors are talking to nearby businesses about becoming part of the school's supply chain.

'Exciting opportunity'

Mayor Joe Anderson said: "Our proposals are built around delivering educational excellence and improving the city's economic prosperity so that the schools truly help regenerate an area."

Pupils will use sports facilities at the leisure centre on Great Homer Street, and the new school building is set to be completed by next summer.

Head teacher Frances Harrison added: "We are excited about the opportunity this new building will give us in order to deliver high quality education for the future."

Funding has also been confirmed for new buildings for:

• Archbishop Beck Catholic Sports College

• Archbishop Blanch C of E High School

• Holly Lodge Girls' College

• St Francis Xavier's College

• St Hilda's C of E High School

• St John Bosco Arts College

• St Julie's Catholic High School

• Redbridge High School

• Aigburth High School

Two more schools will be confirmed in future.