A MAJOR shake-up of education in north Merseyside could see the Church of England take control of two large secondary schools. The Diocese of Liverpool wants to buy Manor High school in Crosby and Ainsdale High school, near Southport. The church is anxious to offer an Anglican education to hundreds of pupils who, at the moment, are either forced to travel across the city to their nearest Anglican secondary or settle for a secular education. The Diocese of Liverpool currently either assists or controls 114 primary schools but has just five secondary schools, including three in Liverpool and one each in Wigan and Warrington. A considerable number of pupils who attended Sefton's 18 C of E primary schools already travel from north Merseyside to the three Liverpool C of E secondary's at St Hilda's (girls) in Sefton Park, St Margaret's (boys) in Aigburth and Archbishop Blanch (girls) in Edge Hill. It is hoped they can now be accommodated at schools much closer to their homes. Figures reveal there are on average at least three applications for every C of E secondary place throughout the region, leaving hundreds of pupils without a place. Most are forced to settle for secular education and some even apply to Catholic schools in a bid to keep a religious element in their schooling. Proposals to be considered by Sefton council today suggest the Diocese would buy one or both Manor High on Sandringham Road, Crosby, and Ainsdale High on St Michael's Road, Ainsdale, with a Government grant. It effectively means almost 1,300 places would be transferred from the local education authority to the diocese. Jon Richardson, Diocesan director of education, stressed there would be no job losses and all existing students would be guaranteed a place. He hopes the schools will eventually expand to take pupils from feeder schools across the region. Alan Williams, chairman of governors at Ainsdale, last night said the proposal was backed by staff and governors at both schools. Rev Martin Duerden, rector at St Andrew's church in Damfield, Maghull and vice chairman of governors for St Andrew's C of E primary in nearby Deys Lane, welcomed the proposal. He said: "There is an added dimension to be had by applying the Christian ethos to a child's education, and many parents recognise there is a different atmosphere in church schools." If plans are approved, there will be a period of consultation before a final decision is made in sprin2004. * PLANS to build a multi-million pound "super school" in north Liverpool are expected to get the go-ahead today. The £5m project will be built on the site of the derelict Rowan Park School in Menai Road in Bootle. It is planned to close Orrell and Roberts primary schools, which have no playing fields, and move pupils to the new school. The Department for Education and Skills has approved £3,998,876 from its targeted capital fund. | 
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