Liverpool is in “such dire need” of pupil places the equivalent of two new schools is required.
Cllr Tom Logan, Liverpool Council cabinet member for education and skills, revealed that up to 400 Year 7 places are needed across the city’s schools “over the next couple of years” as the local authority begins to plan its strategy for schools in the next decade.
Following the decision to keep De la Salle Academy in Croxteth open, Cllr Logan told the education and skills committee at Liverpool Town Hall that the council would now work with the UK Department of Education to plan where places would be needed “over the next 10 to 15 years."
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The cabinet member said schools were taking in 300 more pupils than were attending sites outside the city’s boundaries, but it was said some were going to their local locations that may fall outside the city council catchment area.
In a report circulated to councillors, Cllr Logan said the council had “no silver bullet to fix the issue in secondary schools”.
Jonathan Jones, director of education and skills, told the committee some of the city’s schools carry a historic “reputation” that discourages parents from sending their children to study there, despite their performances.
More than 5,000 residents applied for a year 7 place for 2022, representing an increase of 315 from last year.
Of those, 93% expressed a first preference for a school within the city boundaries.
Cllr Logan said the council was braced for “hundreds” of appeals in relation to placements issued earlier this month.
As it stands, there are 5,473 places available in Liverpool schools, with 81 additional year 7 places having been created since 2021.
One school, St Francis Xavier’s College in Woolton, reduced its published admission number by 19.
Mr Jones told councillors the council could not simply open up a new school to address the admissions problem, stating that a free school or academy would have to be established.
The south end of the city was said to be where the “most popular” schools were located, Mr Jones said, as parents were willing to "zig zag" to get to the schools of their choice.
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