King George V 6th Form College is:- "a model of how things can evolve in the education sector."

SOUTHPORT'S King George V 6th Form College (KGV) has been praised in Parliament as:- "A model of how things can evolve in the education sector." by Southport MP Damien Moore. Students at the College, based on Scarisbrick New Road, recorded impressive A-Level and vocational qualification exam results this year despite the challenges of studying during the Covid Pandemic.  Southport MP Damien Moore, who was speaking during a debate on Further Education Colleges invited Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education, Alex Burghart, to visit KGV,to see how it can help to inspire other Colleges across the UK. 
 
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Moore said:- "King George V College in my constituency has a reputation for producing outstanding A-Level results, with students going on to do great things. It is a model for how things can evolve in the education sector. Will the Minister commit to joining me on a visit to the college to see how it could be a blueprint for development in other areas across the country?" 
 
In August 2021, an incredible 99% of the KGV class of 2021 were accepted at their 1st choice university. The facility has subsequently enjoyed a record number of applicants for courses. In August, Southport MP Damien Moore joined Principal and CEO Michelle Brabner at the College to congratulate the students on their achievements. After the challenges education has faced during the Pandemic, it was fantastic to see KGV students achieve excellent A-Level grades yet again. Success was not limited to A-Levels, as the students studying vocational qualifications also received excellent results for their BTEC Advanced Level Extended Diplomas, equivalent to 3 A-Levels.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education Alex Burghart said:- "Going to Southport would be a great honour. I would be delighted to see how Southport is taking advantage of the ₤480,000 it recently received from the FE capital transformation fund." 
 
Speaking after the debate, MP Damien Moore said:- "There were some fantastic success stories and results when I visited KGV College in August. I was keen to speak in Parliament to celebrate their success, and to ask Ministers to come and visit the college to recognise that. KGV is doing extremely well. It is right up there now. We have got to support it. We want to see many more students going there and continuing to achieve excellent results." 
 
Southport College Assistant Principal Stephen Musa revealed his pride at the recognition that KGV is earning due to its excellent results and top class teaching staff and facilities. He said:- "We are immensely proud of what has been achieved at KGV 6th Form College. It is fantastic that the hard work of our staff and students has been recognised in such a public way. We look forward to the visit from our local MP, Damien Moore and the Minister for Skills, Alex Burghart. We have high expectations of our students and we don't apologise for that, but in the same breath, we can offer a genuine 6th Form experience, where your teachers know you as an individual. This means we can support our students to reach their potential and achieve excellent grades."

For more details about King George V 6th Form College in Southport visit:- KGV.AC.UK.
 

Travel information and advice for the Liverpool City Region announced for the festive season

PEOPLE are being reminded to plan their journeys and follow key advice when travelling during the festive season. A round up of transport information is now available, with Merseytravel confirming that it will be running its annual, special network of free bus services on Christmas Day between around:- 12 noon and 6pm, covering most Hospital routes. The Mersey Tunnels Tolls will also be free, as usual, between:- 10pm on Christmas Eve and 6am on Boxing Day. Travellers are being urged to plan ahead and check timetables, so they don't get caught out as some services finish earlier than usual at this time of year, particularly on Christmas Eve. They should also continue to follow the current Government guidance that includes compulsory wearing of face coverings on board all public transport as well as at ferry terminals, bus and rail Stations to help keep everyone safe.

Merseytravel is working with transport operators to provide services as safely as possible with minimal disruption. Staff will be out and about on the network providing reassurance and advice to passengers.

Cllr Liam Robinson, Transport and Air Quality Portfolio Holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said:- "This is a busy time of year for lots of reasons but with the emergence of the Omicron variant it's really important that we all do everything we can to help reduce the spread of the virus and keep everyone safe. The Metro Mayor has always said that face coverings should remain mandatory in enclosed public spaces and on public transport and I'm urging everyone to continue to wear them when you're travelling and in places where you are mixing with lots of people, especially indoors."

Below is a roundup of bus, train and ferry services across the Liverpool City Region over the Christmas and New Year period. A full round up is available in the Christmas and New Year Public Transport Guide available online at:- Merseytravel.Gov.UK. Also, for more information we suggest you visit the Re-Think Travel page on:- Gov.UK.

Christmas Day - Friday, 25 December 2021:-

►  A special network of free bus services, funded by Merseytravel, will run between approximately:- 12 noon and 6pm, covering most Hospital routes.

►  No other bus services will operate.

►  No trains will operate.

►  Mersey Ferries will not operate.

► The Kingsway (Wallasey) Mersey Tunnel and the Queensway (Birkenhead) Mersey Tunnel will be open throughout the holiday period. Both tunnels will be toll free from 10pm, on Thursday, 24 December 2021, until 6am, on Saturday, 26 December 2021.

Bus services:-

Bus services may vary over the festive period. Visit:- Merseytravel.Gov.UK for latest planned changes to services and with operators including:-

► Arriva:- ArrivaBus.Co.UK/Buy-Tickets/Region/North-West.

► Stagecoach:- StagecoachBus.Com.

► Cumfybus:- Cumfybus.Co.UK.

Football Fixtures, on 26 December 2021, 30 December 2021 and 2 January 2022, the following buses will be running to their normal timetables:-

► Soccerbus (Peoplesbus)

► 501/502 (Peoplesbus)

► 917 Liverpool FC (Stagecoach)

► 919 Everton FC (Stagecoach)

► Taxi 1 Liverpool FC (A and J Taxis)
Rail

► During the festive period there will be changes to some timetables, with some services finishing earlier than usual and some services not running.

Mersey and Northern Rail:-

► Merseyrail and Northern will be running some services on Boxing day. For Wirral, Northern and City line services check:- Merseyrail.Org or NorthernRailway.Co.UK.

► If you're heading out of the Region by rail checking your journey plans by visiting:- NationalRail.Co.UK.

Mersey Tunnels:-

► Kingsway and Queensway Tunnels will remain open throughout the festive period. Both tunnels will be toll free between 10pm, on Christmas Eve and 6am, on Boxing Day.

Mersey Ferries:-

► Mersey Ferries will run to their normal morning service on Christmas Eve with an early finish.

► Mersey Ferries will not operate on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

► River Explorer Cruises will operate between Monday, 27 December 2021 and Monday, 3 January 2022 (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day) from the Pier Head at:- 1100, then hourly until the last service which will depart from the Pier Head, at:- 1500, arriving at Woodside, at:- 1520. There will be no commuter service.

► Normal service will resume on Tuesday, 4 January 2022 with the 1st Commuter service at:- 0720 from Woodside and the 1st River Explorer Cruise departing from the Pier Head, at:- 1000. Visit:- MerseyFerries.Co.UK.

Please note all the information on this page maybe subject to change.