Paul McCartney's LIPA progresses with plans for new school

liverpoolecho.co.uk
Paul McCartney's LIPA progresses with plans for new school
Parents and pupils interested in attending the proposed school can put their name down now
ByNick Tyrrell
Local Democracy Reporter
UPDATED10: 11 FEB 2020


Sir Paul McCartney and Mark Featherstone-Witty (right) co-founded LIPA.

Plans for the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) to open a senior school have moved a step further after a new funding application for the project was made.

LIPA, set up by Paul McCartney and Mark Featherstone-Witty in 1996, is among a number of applicants for the latest wave of free school funding in a list published by the government last week.

The well-known city institute opened a primary school in 2014 and a sixth form in 2016 - and parents of pupils at those schools were first asked their views on the school opening a senior school in 2017.

At the time LIPA said opening a senior school would allow it to close the gap between its primary and sixth form provision.

Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts(LIPA),on Mount Street. (Image: Liverpool Echo)

A statement on LIPA's website about the proposal said: "Our developments have encouraged us to bid for our final free school to fill the gap between our primary free school and our free sixth form college.

"And this is where we would like your help. We need to convince government that this would be worthwhile and your support would assist us so your response to the questionnaire would be perfect.

"Our free high school would also help answer a question our primary parents are, even now, asking: 'Where next?'"

The school hopes to start taking in senior pupils from 2021, with parents directed to an expression of interest form if they want to be kept up to date with the application.


LIPA, which was co-founded by Sir Paul McCartney

According to their website LIPA plans to offer the conventional curriculum in Years 7, 8 and 9 before offering the following qualifications from age 14:

• Film & Media Production - BTEC Level 2 First Certificate in Creative Digital Media Production
• Dance - BTEC Level 2 First Extended Certificate in Performing Arts
• Musical Theatre - BTEC Level 2 First Certificate in Performing Arts (Musical Theatre)
• Visual Arts & Design - BTEC First Level 2 Diploma in Visual Art and Design
• Interactive Digital Design - BTEC Level 2 Certificate in Creative Media Production (Interactive Media)
• Music - BTEC Level 2 First Certificate in Music
• Theatre - BTEC Level 2 First Certificate in Theatre

The school's application will now go through further stages before it could receive approval to open.