Gateacre comprehensive and Hope special school

First look at city’s £30m super-school

Feb 8 2008 by Ben Turner, Liverpool Echo

An artist's impression of the £30m building comprising Gateacre comprehensive and Hope special school

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THIS is the first glimpse of a £30m super-school being built in Liverpool.

Our exclusive artistic impression shows how Gateacre comprehensive and Hope special school will look when it opens in 2010.

The centre, to be used by the community, will be built at the Reggie Smith memorial ground in Belle Vale, and will have extended opening hours.

It is part of the city’s £400m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) makeover, and will include:

Retractable walls to create flexible classrooms.

A 200-plus seater theatre.

Five learning houses. The L-shaped blocks will include nine classrooms and private study areas for each year group, meaning pupils need not traipse across the school between lessons.

An interactive “IT cave” containing 3D animation and computer software allowing pupils to engage in scenarios ranging from a French market to the blitz.

Large courtyard for outdoor dining, sport and lessons.

Learning cafe with computers and internet access.

Technical “warehouse” to be used by all pupils and feature the latest design technology equipment for vocational lessons.

Green features including energy-saving heating and possibly solar panels.

Gateacre headteacher Gerard Lonergan said he is thrilled with the plans.

“It is going to be a fantastic opportunity and stimulating experience for the pupils and staff working in an environment that has been purposely designed to meet the needs of this century.”

Work on the scheme is due to start in December.

Steve Dixon, the man overseeing the city’s BSF project, said: “The whole idea of this project is to make it accessible to the whole community, and this will be a flagship school for BSF.”

benturner@liverpoolecho.co.uk