The government has approved plans to establish a new secondary school in Liverpool.
The Department for Education (DfE) has announced that 15 new free schools will be opened across the country where education outcomes are weakest – with Liverpool selected as one of the locations.
The new school, Eden Girls' Leadership Academy, will be established in the city by Star Academies, a not-for-profit multi-academy trust, which runs schools across the country.
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Eden Girls will be the city's first Muslim faith-designated school in Liverpool and will create 800 spaces for girls aged between 11 and 18. While it will be a Muslim faith-designated school, it will not be operating a faith-based admissions policy. The school will operate a community-based admissions policy, which means it will be open to children of all faiths and none.
During its opening year, the 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.
Star Academies says its Eden Girls School Liverpool 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.'
At this stage, no location for the new school has been decided. Free schools are funded by the Government but are not run by the local authority – instead, they are run by other organisations – most commonly academy trusts – but also businesses and universities.
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."
Cllr Lila Bennett, Liverpool council 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.”
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “We want to make more good school places available to families, and these 15 new free schools will bring brand new opportunities to young people from Bradford to Bristol."