Liverpool City Council is gearing up to discuss a report that will kickstart the development of a new girls’ secondary school in Toxteth and identify new community facilities for the African Caribbean community. The report, set to be deliberated on at the next cabinet meeting on Tuesday 25th February, proposes making five council-owned parcels of land available for the Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, part of the Star Academies Multi-Academy Trust.
The proposed school site, bordered by Upper Parliament Street, Mulgrave Street, and Selborne Street, currently houses the African Caribbean Centre, a beloved community establishment. The report suggests developing new facilities to cater to the needs of the community, with consultations already underway with the centre’s leadership to determine the best approach for providing the necessary support either on-site or in a nearby location.
Liverpool is under increasing pressure to address the shortage of secondary school places, and the introduction of the Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy is expected to add 600 more places to the city. With a Muslim faith designation, the school aims to welcome pupils of various faiths and backgrounds, approved under the Department for Education’s Free Schools program, requiring Liverpool City Council to secure a suitable location.
Cabinet Member for Growth and Economy, Cllr Nick Small, highlighted the challenges of finding suitable school sites in Liverpool, emphasizing the importance of meeting Department for Education criteria while ensuring safe and accessible locations for communities with high demand. Cllr Lila Bennett, Cabinet Member for Employment, Educational Attainment, and Skills, expressed the council’s commitment to providing modern facilities that meet the needs of the African Caribbean community in Toxteth, aiming to secure vital support for the area for years to come through collaborative engagement with the community
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