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1. What makes a centre for learning different  from a school? 
2. What will happen to the pupils during the building and demolition process?
3. Will there be much disruption to the local community?
4. How many secondary schools are in the secondary future schooling in Knowsley programme?
5. What is PFI?
6. What is the Staffing Commission?
7. What is the National Computers for pupils initiative?
8. Who will be carrying out the construction of the new schools?
9. Who will the new specialist centre for learning cater for?
10. The current secondary school which is being replaced by the centre for learning has a specialism which benefits pupils and the community. What will happen to this new centre for learning?
11. My family are Church of England members and would like to attend a CE secondary school. Do they have to travel out of the borough?
12. What provisions will be made for lunchtimes in the new centres for learning?
13. I have a complaint or enquiry in relation to the construction work being carried out on one of the building sites where a new school is being built. Who should I speak to?
14. How will the admission policy work?
15. Where can I get further information on the project?

 

 
1. What makes a centre for learning different from a school?

• It is proposed they will open longer, often until 10pm, at weekends and during school holidays
• It is proposed they will be used by the wider community for sport, cutural and leisure activities
• It is proposed they will be centres for lifelong learning, community use and a point of information about council services
• Technology is changing the way we learn and it is expected the learning centres will promote a learn anywhere, anytime philosophy.

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2. What will happen to the pupils during the building and demolition process?

Disruption will be kept to a minimum.  Pupils will continue to attend their existing schools which will remain open until the new learning centres are complete and ready to move into.

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3. Will there be much disruption to the local community?

It would be impossible to guarantee absolutely no disruption to the community. However, our construction partners are very experienced in delivering high quality buildings, safely and to time, and in a way that minimises disruption to local communities.  The work on site will be carefully monitored to ensure that the builders complete their work in an appropriate manner and action will be taken where this is not the case.

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4. How many secondary schools are in the secondary future schooling in Knowsley programme?

There are currently 7 centres for learning in Knowsley's secondary programme, with funds also reserved for a new special school.

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 5. What is PFI?

The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) was originally used in the building of new hospitals and prisons it was deemed that this type of contract could be transferred to the building of new schools. PFI is usually a single contract that includes design, construction, maintenance and other accomodation services, usually for 25 years or more. Often this single contract includes buildings, furniture and grounds and services such as cleaning and catering.

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 6. What is the staffing commission?

This is an independent body that includes representatives of the relevant unions and professional associations. It leads and supports the appointment process, training and development needs of the staff. The staffing commission is chaired by Rosemary Hawley MBE (the Chair of Knowsleys Primary Care Trust).

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 7. What is the National Computers for pupils initiative?

We are currently working with our ICT Future Schooling in Knowsley partner company RM to deliver laptops with wireless internet access for Knowsley families as part of the national computers for pupils initative. The project is aimed at students and their families who currently don’t have a computer at home.

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 8. Who will be carrying out the construction of the new schools?

Knowsley Schools Joint Venture (KSJV) which consists of a number of partners, including Balfour Beatty construction, Harden Building Management and Balfour Kilpatrick.

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  9. Who will the new specialist centre for learning cater for?

The school will cater for pupils with a range of complex Special Educational Needs (SEN) including:

• severe learning difficulties.
• profound and multiple learning difficulties.
• autistic spectrum disorder associated with severe learning difficulties.
• hearing and visual impairment with severe learning difficulties.
• children and young people from the above groups, who are likely to have significant physical disabilities.

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 10. The current secondary school which is being replaced by the centre for learning has a specialism which benefits pupils and the community. What will happen to this new centre for learning?

Existing specialisms, such as arts, sports, languages and technology, will transfer to the new centres for learning which also have the opportunity to acquire new specialisms if it is felt there is a need. Closure of a school will not prevent the transfer of all areas of good practice.

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  11. My family are Church of England members and would like to attend a CE secondary school. Do they have to travel out of the borough?

No. The Liverpool Church of England Diocese has been working in partnership with the council and the Liverpool Catholic Archdiocese to inaugurate a new joint faith catholic and church of England centre for learning in North Huyton. There will be 180 places, larger than the current Catholic school, so that there is more space for pupils.

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  12. What provision will be made for lunchtimes in the new centres for learning?

We are looking at state-of-the-art facilities for our young people and planning to move away from the traditional model of one large dining hall with long queues. Instead, there will be food access points at different locations throughout the buildings, offering comfortable surroundings with opportunities to socialise.

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 13. I have a complaint or enquiry in relation to the construction work being carried out on one of the building sites where a new school is being built. Who should I speak to?

Contact Josie Neil, Community Relations Officer at the following address:

Knowsley Schools Joint Venture
Stephenson House
Acornfield Road
Knowsley Industrial Park North
Liverpool L33 7TY

Telephone: 0151 632 8500
Fax: 0151 632 8520
Mobile: 07876102457
email: josie.neil@bbcl.co.uk

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  14. How will the admission policy work?

Contact the school admissions team on 443 3212 for information about admission policies.

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 15. Where can I get further information on the future schooling in Knowsley projects?

Visit the future schooling webpages which are regularly updated with the latest information. You can also find out more on the Teachers website resource.

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