St Hilda's High School: Look inside the new £15m Liverpool school

School has moved to new site in Sefton Park

As pupils returned to school at St Hilda’s high school this term they were among thousands across the city being welcomed into brand new school buildings.

The new £15m St Hilda’s has been built on land at the former Sefton Grange municipal buildings adjacent to its existing site at Sefton Park.

St Hilda’s CE High School headteacher Eleanor Benson said when pupils first entered the new school there was a “wow” factor.

It is part of a £169m scheme for 17 new and refurbished schools funded through a mix of investment from the Government and contributions from the council.

She said: “The old school was very crowded and higgledy piggledy. It was built for 450 pupils and when we were leaving there were around 800 pupils, although the original building had been added to.

“The difference in the new school building is it was purpose built and designed for the pupils – and it has a lovely airy classrooms with big windows out on to the park on that side of the building, with amazing views from the fourth floor. It really makes the most of the location on the park.”

The new school has specially equipped science labs with preparation rooms and a new library to house the school’s books, along with a new chapel.

Mrs Benson said: “A year 11 class went into the food tech room and they said ‘wow’.”

The headteacher also praised the builders, Morgan Sindall, who she said had involved staff and students in the work on the new school, including the site manager who had taken part in some classes, and added: “I think it’s a credit to Liverpool council for persevering, they have worked hard to benefit the pupils in Liverpool, and we’re very appreciative of what the diocese have done.”

Looking to the future she said: “I think it’s an interesting challenge for us, to take the strengths of St Hilda’s from the previous building into this one.

“Previously pupils in the old building were very good at co-operating with each other and behaviour was excellent – they knew they had to behave in the right way because it was so cramped. Our aim is to keep those strengths.

“Education is more than just GCSEs and A Levels, although we do get very good exam results which we are very pleased with.”

Mrs Benson said the school’s move into its new building coincides with the move and added: “It’s a real historical turning point."

The former school buildings are being demolished and used for sports facilities, due to be completed by next May.

The school is holding an open day on Wednesday, September 16 from 6pm to 8.30pm.