Two special needs schools in Woolton are set to benefit from a £2.1million refurbishment after a report to the Mayor’s cabinet recommended that Palmerston and Abbot’s Lea be extended to cater for increased demand for places.
Kier Construction has been awarded the contract to extend the two schools, which is included in a number projects that form part of the Liverpool School Investment Programme, in which Mayor Joe Anderson has pledged to deliver 12 new schools.
Palmerston, which teaches secondary school-aged children with severe learning difficulties, will see a £929,000 revamp, which will go towards a four-classroom extension to provide an over-16s centre and enabling it to take on a further 48 pupils.
Abbot’s Lea specialises in supporting youngsters with autism, and will benefit from £1,234,000 which will amount to an extra six classrooms. The new classrooms at both schools will have solar panels on the roof to keep energy costs low.
The investments will save the city council £2 million a year as it means it will not have to send the 42 pupils currently on the waiting list for places next year out of the city to be educated.
Councillor Jane Corbett, cabinet member for education, said: “Our special schools do an amazing job providing our young people with a fantastic education. However, both Palmerston and Abbot’s Lea desperately need to be extended to enable us to be able to cope with the demand for places.
“This work will enable us to provide first class facilities for young people with special educational needs and it is a fantastic and worthwhile investment.”
The new classrooms are expected to open in 2013.