Work is now starting on transforming the ground floor of the Kirkby Centre into Alt Bridge School’s post-16 education provision, ensuring children with special needs and / or disabilities can continue on their education journey.
Knowsley Council is investing £5m in a phased programme which will see an additional 120 special school places created over a four year period.
As part of the programme, the post-16 provision will relocate to the Kirkby Centre, which will free up more space at Alt Bridge School for special school places.
Now, Sterling Services, based on Knowsley Business Park, has commenced on site to transform the ground floor into an education facility. The works are due to be completed by April 2026.
The ground floor space will be transformed into modern learning environments, including kitchen facilities, which will support young people as they prepare for adulthood and independence.
Access to Kirkby Library and the Kirkby Gallery remain unaffected with “business as usual” in both locations whilst the works are undertaken.
Cllr David Lonergan, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:
“It’s really important that we can meet the rising demand for special school provision in the borough. Our phased expansion programme at Alt Bridge is creating an additional special school places, whilst also ensuring that we can continue to provide post-16 provision in a modern, fit for purpose, learning environment.
“It will be great to see this project progress and I look forward to welcoming students to this new, modern learning environment in the spring.”
Paul Hughes, Managing Director at Sterling Services, added:
“We are delighted to be working with Knowsley Council on this important project. We’re a local company, employing local people and I look forward to delivering something that will really benefit Knowsley’s children and young people, now and in years to come.”