New beginnings
by Educate Magazine April 7, 2014 · Latest Features
Mayor Joe Anderson has kick started construction of the new £7 million Holly Lodge Girls’ College in West Derby.
The scheme will see a new main teaching block comprising new humanities classrooms, new arts, music and drama spaces including an activity hall, and a new sixth form with a central atrium and café area.
The aim at Holly Lodge is to significantly reduce the number of school buildings, some of which are over 100 years old and unsuited to delivering a modern curriculum.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “I pledged to rebuild a dozen schools to help transform the experience for tens of thousands of present and future school pupils, and this is the fourth scheme that we are starting work on.
“This investment in Holly Lodge Girls’ College is much needed to make sure pupils get the most out of their learning.”
The scheme includes a small extension to the existing sports hall with new administrative offices and a new look reception.
There will also be a new half-sized floodlit artificial grass pitch, which will be made available to the local community.
Headteacher Julia Tinsley said: “We absolutely love our site but time has caught up with it and it is a sad fact that the age and layout is just not suitable for today’s teaching.
“The new school will address this and enhance the beautiful campus on which the school is built, maintaining the unique character of Holly Lodge.
“We are thrilled and delighted that the girls and staff will be given the accommodation and ICT facilities they deserve. It will also be a much more environmentally friendly school which will cost us less to heat, maintain and repair.”
The new building is arranged in proximity to the five buildings which are being retained, which will greatly reduce lost teaching time as a result of pupils having to walk long distances between lessons.
It is proposed that around a third of the existing site at the front nearest Queens Drive will be sold when the work is completed.
The new building is scheduled to open in February 2015.
On Saturday 26th April 2014 Holly Lodge Girls’ College will be holding a 92nd Birthday celebration for pupils old and new.
The event will provide an opportunity to say a fond farewell to the old site and some of the old buildings as well as an opportunity to celebrate the bright new accommodation for Holly Lodge future and current students.
All ex pupils will be invited and further information will be available on the school website and Twitter account. www.hollylodge.liverpool.sch.uk
