Cheshire Oaks High School and Ellesmere Port Specialist School of Performing Arts face closure as £25m academy earmarked for youth centre field

Jun 17 2009 by Gary Porter, Ellesmere Port Pioneer

COUNCILLORS are expected to axe two Ellesmere Port high schools tonight, paving the way for a £25m academy.

And the Pioneer understands that the new school, which would replace Cheshire Oaks High and Ellesmere Port Specialist School of Performing Arts, could be built on land at the back of the HUB youth centre in Whitby Road.

Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) will outline the exact plans for the academy ahead of next week’s executive meeting when the proposal will be approved if, as expected, councillors agree on the closure of the two schools.

CWAC leader Mike Jones said: “The decision affecting the future of the two schools will be taken after carefully considering all the facts and opinions gathered from stakeholders, local residents and experts.

“It has taken many months to reach this point of a final decision and I must stress that due diligence and care will be taken by executive members.”

Labour group leader Derek Bateman said he and his colleague Cllr Pat Merrick have been ‘working hard behind the scenes’ to secure an academy for Ellesmere Port.

He said: “The current buildings we’ve got are falling down and attainment is rising lower than the national average.

“We can’t blame that on the kids. What is clear is we are not improving similar to the national trend. This will transform educational opportunity in the town and bring massive investment.”

During the consultation process a petition signed by nearly 100 people opposing the academy plan was handed in by campaign group Keep Ellesmere Port Schools.

Member Greg Foster, of Cheshire NUT, said: “We’re not convinced by any of the arguments. The opposition is overwhelming when you look at the first round of consultation.”

The academy would operate on the current school until the new facility scheduled for 2012 is operational.

The lead sponsor of the proposed academy is the University of Chester, and the co-sponsors are the Church of England and CWAC.