Performing arts school to permanently shut in July
BBC / Tom WalkerA Liverpool primary and secondary school will close permanently next month after an unsuccessful legal bid to secure its future.
Parents took their fight to save The LIPA School to the High Court after it was announced earlier this year that it would close at the end of the academic year.
The Save LIPA campaign group sought a judicial review but this was dismissed at a hearing on 11 June.
The school, which is separate from Sir Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) higher education college, will now close at the end of the summer term.
'Deeply humbling'
The school, which caters for pupils from four to 16, had been struggling for some time with financial issues as well as concerns about its performance and facilities.
Commenting after the judgement, legal representatives for the campaign said: "While we are naturally disappointed by the outcome, we fully respect the Court's decision and thank everyone who supported us throughout this process.
"On behalf of the Save LIPA campaign, we want to express our sincere gratitude to the parents, pupils, former pupils, staff, community leaders, councillors, supporters, and the people of Liverpool who stood alongside us."
They said the level of support had been "overwhelming and deeply humbling".
They added: "Although we have lost this legal battle, we believe the campaign demonstrated something far greater: the strength of feeling that exists for specialist performing arts education in our city."
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