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£16
million revamp for primary schools
4 Liverpool
schools are set to be reborn as the city’s multi-million pound
primary rebuilding programme gets underway.
The city council’s executive board is being asked on Friday, 12
September 2008, to give the green light for brand new, 21st century
buildings for Croxteth, Hope Valley, Breckfield and Faith primary
schools. It is the first phase of the government’s primary
capital programme, which aims to rebuild, re-model or re-furbish at
least 47 Liverpool primary schools over the next 15 years.
The initial £16m of funding - over the next 2 years - will pave the
way for a brand new Croxteth Primary School, the federation of Hope
Valley and Breckfield Community Schools in a new-build school and
the re-building of Faith Primary School in Everton.
The council’s executive member for education, Councillor Keith
Turner, said:- “Investing in the future of education in
Liverpool is a major priority for us, particularly those schools in
particularly poor condition and in areas of significant deprivation.
Our plans for brand new primary school buildings in the Croxteth,
Breckfield and Everton wards of the city will breathe new life into
education in these areas and contribute to their overall
regeneration.
Despite replacing or refurbishing our most rundown primary schools
over the last few years, we still have too many surplus places and
too many children being taught in buildings which aren’t suitable
for 21st century learning.
We have made excellent progress in driving up standards in the last
few years and this project will help raise attainment even more.
Viable schools in most need will be rebuilt or refurbished, but in
future phases there is a possibility we will have to look at
amalgamation or even closure.
We are absolutely committed to making sure every child in Liverpool
gets the best possible start in life and education is a key part of
that.”
In order to qualify for the funding, the council has had to submit a
detailed review to the government of primary school provision across
the city. The government is not willing to give money to
schools that are not sustainable in the long term, and expects
Liverpool to reduce the number of surplus places in the city before
funds are released. It also requires the city to reduce its
primary surplus places from 13% to 10% by 2013.
The city council has consulted widely since June on the first phase
of review with parents, staff, pupils and governors, as well as the
wider community, the diocese and archdiocese and other interested
parties. In addition to recommending The Phase One review also
recommends that no action needs to be taken at the following primary
schools:-
• Holy Cross Catholic
School
• Kirkdale St Lawrence Primary School
• The Trinity Catholic Primary School
• St John’s Catholic Primary School
• Whitefield Community Primary School
• Our Lady Immaculate Catholic primary School
• The Beacon Primary School
• Emmaus Primary School
• Our Lady and St Swithin’s Catholic Primary School
Liverpool has 134 mainstream primary schools (community and faith)
attended by 32,688 children. As in other cities, Liverpool is
experiencing a decline in pupil numbers. The number has dropped by
approximately 1,000 a year over the past ten years. Although the
rate has slowed, the figure is still expected to fall to 30,356 by
the year 2013 - a reduction of over 2,000.
The new buildings are expected to open by September 2010. |
STUDENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ORAL SEX MOUTH CANCER LINK
AS record
numbers of new students arrive in Liverpool this year, is studying
the 1st thing on their minds?
Whilst meeting new people and
socialising is an expected aspect of being a student, excess
partying can leave behind more than just a hangover.
Health experts are urging young people to practice safe sex after a
study revealed an increase in the number of sexually active young
people being diagnosed with mouth cancer.
The Human Papilloma Virus
(HPV), which causes cervical cancer, is also thought to be
responsible for many cancers in the mouth and throat.
The HPV virus
is passed on by having unprotected sex, and many people don’t
realise that this also includes oral sex.
A US study of nearly 46,000 cases of oral cancers found that people
with 6 or more oral sex partners were 3 times more likely to develop
cancer than those who had never had oral sex.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health
Foundation said:- “As young people become more sexually active
this link certainly helps to explain the increase in mouth cancer
cases in this age group and in particular amongst men.
In the last
10 years the number of young men suffering from mouth cancer has
risen by almost a 3rd.
In the UK mouth cancer kills
around 1 in 2 people that develop it. However, with early detection,
survival chances increase to 9 out of 10.
Regular dental
visits are vital and people that notice common early symptoms such
as ulcers that don’t heal after 3 weeks, lumps and red or white
patches in the mouth should book a dentist appointment immediately.”
A recent mouth cancer survey conducted by the British Dental Health
Foundation and Medicash has found that 73% of people aged 18 to 30
were unaware that the HPV virus could be transmitted by oral sex.
Nationally almost three quarters of those asked also lacked this
knowledge except for in Liverpool where almost half of people knew
about the risk.
Sue Weir, chief executive of Liverpool based Medicash says:-
“Students want to save money where they can and so going to the
dentist can be seen as an unnecessary cost.
Regular dental visits are essential and there are ways, such as
having a cash plan, which can make going to the dentist affordable.
For less than the cost of a drink in a student bar, cash plans can
also help students budget for other health costs.
Knowing you can claim for money towards
glasses and contact lenses, and sports massage and physiotherapy can
be a helping hand to students.” |
