Interesting reading - Liverpool South Parkway railway station from Wikipedia.
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Interesting reading - Liverpool South Parkway railway station from Wikipedia.
Wikipedia amazes me.Quote:
Originally Posted by A.D.Williams
ANGLICAN and Catholic schools will be joined together under one headteacher in south Liverpool, church officials will announce today.
Three schools in the Garston area, which have struggled to stay open in the face of declining numbers, will join together under one of two models.
Staff at Garston Church of England Primary, Liverpool's oldest school, Holy Trinity and St Francis of Assisi schools were last night celebrating the deal.
"We are relieved," said Garston CE Primary's headteacher, Rick Widdowson.
"Now that it has been brought out in the open, it will be for the governing boards to get together and decide what they want to do." Staff at the three schools went into secret meetings yesterday to be told the news ahead of today's official announcement.
Under option one of the plan, Garston CE will stay open but one of the two Catholic schools will go. The Daily Post understands Holy Trinity is thought to be the more likely to stay open.
The schools would be federated, meaning they were still two schools, but run by a single head teacher and board of governors under one budget.
Religious character would not change and, if regeneration brought new people to the area, the schools would have the option to break their links.
Option two would create a joint C of E and Catholic school with a new name, but on two sites. If money was available in the future, a new headquarters could be built for what would be the fourth joint faith school in Liverpool.
Governing bodies have been given until November to decide which choice they prefer.
In a joint statement, The Bishop of Warrington, the Rt Rev David Jennings and schools vicar Father Michael O'Dowd said: "Either of the proposed options presents an exciting way forward, that will help secure the long term future of Church of England and Catholic education in the Garston area.
"This will build on the good working relationships that the Garston churches already have in an area that in the past suffered from sectarian division. We would encourage all those involved in discussions during the next few months to do so in a spirit of partnership and openness that characterises the best ecumenical relationships."
Garston Primary has just 80 pupils, but places for 175, while nearby St Francis of Assisi has 121 children but places for another 50.
Until a few months ago, Garston Primary had thought it was going to close at the end of this term.
But in March it was given a last minute reprieve, guaranteeing the 300-year-old school would stay open for another school year.
The Archdiocese and Diocese have been in talks with the council since 2005 over their schools' future.
adrian.butler@liverpool.com
The Action Group of Garston C of E School are happy with the proposal as we understand it, to federate the Anglican and Catholic schools, which was put forward by the Diocese and Archdiocese. Both schools will retain their own religious character and remain on two sites. There will be one headteacher to manage both sites.
Our thoughts are with the Catholic community who will be losing one of their schools in the area. We feel this is the middle way and offers provision for both Anglican and Catholic education in Garston. This way we can help each other to give all of our children the education they deserve and that their parents have chosen for them.
HUNDREDS of jobs are set to be created by turning Garston into a cultural village.
Campaigners have drawn up a business plan to present to the city council in a bid to transform the Wellington Street school into a community arts and education centre.
The proposals - which could help create 250 jobs for the area - were unveiled at apublic meeting last night.
Plans for a 'Made in Garston' project utilising a row of empty shops in St Mary's Road were also outlined.
Jimmy McGovern, Dean Sullivan, Rita Tushingham and Mike McCartney are among supporters of the Garston Cultural Village Campaign.
Campaigners maintain the area, which they claim has become 'the land that time forgot', could be successfully regenerated through the arts in the run up to Capital of Culture.
Artist Alex Corina, who is behind the drive, hopes the refurbished school would become a permanent home to Garston's Artskills Community Arts project, Art Start managed studio spaces and an artists' employment initiative.
He said: "We've reached the key point in our cultural village campaign which has been running for two years. The council is going to be considering what to do with the properties. We've made abid for the school.
"The whole project would be viable and self-financing. It's big enough in terms of affordable rents and the amount of interest we've had from dozens of creative businesses.
"The proposed Art Start project would help artists get their careers moving by providing affordable studio, workshop and office space within the old school building. It's location would also provide a natural bridge between artists and the education sector."
Made in Garston would develop a craft-based souvenir industry.
In the last 12 months, more than 25 artists have been employed in Garston.
An art skills project is currently running with 10 Garston schools, and anumber of arts workshops have been held for local residents.
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Garston CofE primary school today said they wanted it to stand on its own two feet. more
As usual the Echo has got it wrong again. Nobody has said Garston CE wants to "go it alone" - this is completely made up. Under the two options given to the School Governors - (1) of a joint-faith school or (2) of a federation with the amalgamated School formed from St Francis of Assisi and HolyTrinity, option (2) for federation is preferred by the Governors and action group - this information has been quite clearly passed on to the Echo. Under the option for federation either of the schools could chose to leave the federation should they find themselves in a stronger position in the future. This would be with the agreement of the other school.
Garston CE and the Catholic school will both keep their own sites and their own religious character but will be run by one headteacher.
It is not helpful to the community at such a sensitive and upsetting time to put stumbling blocks in the way in the form of misinformation. The Echo has been contacted by the headteacher of Garston CE and will be publishing a retraction tomorrow.
"Many Thanks" AD, It's very much appreciated by we 'Ex Pats' at the other side of the world! Norm G.Quote:
Originally Posted by A.D.Williams
:PDT_Aliboronz_24: - love the pics DaveQuote:
Originally Posted by Norm NZ
THE head teacher of Liverpool's oldest school today said a merger was the only way to ensure its survival.
Garston C of E primary head Rick Widdowson was taking part in talks with a local Catholic primary today aimed at making the merger work.
Church officials have offered the Holman road school two merger options, which would mean it can remain open.
A federation involving Garston C of E primary and either St Francis of Assisi or Holy Trinity is on the drawing board.
Mr Widdowson said: "The parents, governors and staff here are very pleased with the proposals and hope we can end up with an inclusive set-up which benefits everyone.
"I'm going to see the parents at St Francis with the head teacher and other representatives.
"We don't want to do anything which is likely to alienate anyone."
He added that the possibility of creating a joint Catholic/Church of England school on two sites was also being considered.
"One of the bonuses of the federation means the regeneration takes place and could provide extra people and extra children at the merged site.
"If the numbers of both schools rise to the degree that they can survive as separate entities it may be possible under the way federations are set up for a negotiated withdrawal.
"But that would be 10 or 15 years in the future - and it works the other way round.
"If the federation becomes the only viable option then that is able to develop likewise.
"We are very interested in holding positive talks."
Garston Church of England School is opening it's doors to the community on Wednesday 28 June 2006 from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm. There will be exhibitions, practical demonstration and outdoor activities (weather permitting), Prize draw for adults and a free gift for children.
All welcome - we would be delighted to see old pupils and their families.
Come along and see what we have to offer
:celb (23):
LIVERPOOL'S oldest school welcomed a special guest to its first open day.
Garston CofE primary, which has been battling the threat of closure, had a barrel of laughs when comedian Ricky Tomlinson arrived.
The school in Holman Road invited Ricky to open its new library and at the same time showed off its facilities and the work of children to prospective parents.
Despite pupil numbers falling across the city, Garston will have more than 90 pupils at the start of the new school term in September, compared with 81, today.
The school is celebrating excellent SATS results for its 11-year-olds, with 100% of children achieving level four or above in both maths and English.
A public consultation is under way regarding the future of Garston CofE primary school.
The favoured way forward is for a federation involving Garston CofE primary and either St Francis of Assisi or Holy Trinity schools under one headteacher.
It was a fantastic night - beyond everybody's expectations. Ricky was brilliant with the children. We have had lots of interest shown and our numbers are set to increase come September.
The icing on the cake was of course the wonderful SATS results - for our children to perform so well under such circumstances shows what a good school it is.
I should mention that the refurbishment of the library, which was completed by the parents, could not have been achieved without the help of businesses and shops in Garston and Speke Retail Park. We would like to thank them all.
We are a small school with a massive, strong heart - onward and upward from now on.:celb (23):
All credit to the wonderful C of E school community - :celb (23):Brilliant :)Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetpatooti
THE official opening of Liverpool's new £32m rail and bus interchange was accompanied by a host of festivities, including a town crier, a jazz band, and a children's' choir. more
....I've noticed they have also covered up the old South Liverpool FC wall :PDT_Xtremez_12: . Shame on them. The only thing that takes me back to when me and my grandad stood in front watching the footy :rolleyes: