The council is looking at the future of 23 secondary schools in the city in a bid to boost standards and opportunities for young people across the board by 2013.

It's part of the £400 million Building Schools for the Future programme - the biggest schools rebuilding scheme ever seen in Liverpool - which will transform secondary schools throughout the city.

In order to secure the funding from the government, the council has to submit a detailed business case by May 2008, including a full review of existing secondary school provision in the city.

The business case will be looked at by PFS (Partnership for Schools) and OSC (Office of the Schools Commissioner). Before they will agree to invest in rebuilding schemes, the council must prove schools are viable and sustainable.

The Secondary Schools review looks at the key issues facing education in Liverpool in the coming years and sets out proposals for every secondary school in the city. Headteachers, schools staff, residents, governors, parents, pupils, trade unions and the Liverpool Archdiocese and Diocese will all be consulted on the review from 29 October to 10 December 2007.

Executive Member for Children's Services, Lib Dem Councillor Paul Clein, said: "The Building Schools for the Future programme is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Liverpool. It will provide us with £400m of investment to build modern, state-of-the-art, 21st century education facilities which will benefit tens of thousands of Liverpool children.

"The secondary schools review is an important part of the process we have to go through to secure funding from the government. They must be convinced that the huge investment will not go into schools which in years to come will no longer be viable. 

"Building Schools for the Future is about more than simply investing in bricks and mortar - it's about us investing in the future of thousands of young people in every part of the city. It's vital that we get it right and this review will help us do that." 

Seven Liverpool schools fall under what is known as "Wave 2" of the government scheme, with work due to be completed by 2011, while the rest fall under "Wave 6", and are expected be completed by 2013.

Proposals for schools in the 'City & North and Alt Valley' area of the city include the refurbishment of Alsop School with 21st century learning facilities under Wave 2 of the programme and the relocation of Notre Dame Girls College to a new-build adjacent to Everton Park Sports Centre under Wave 6.

In the 'Liverpool East' area, proposals include combined £38m investment in Broughton Hall and Cardinal Heenan Catholic Schools under Wave 2, and a new, £27m complex to replace the ageing split-site West Derby Comprehensive, co-locating with Ernest Cookson Special School, under Wave 2. Designs for the new West Derby School are already underway, with building due to start in 2010.

Proposals for the 'South Central' area include the relocation of St Hilda's Girl's School to a new site under Wave 6 as well as allowing boys to attend to address gender imbalance in Church of England schools. Calderstones and Shorefields Comprehensives will also undergo refurbishment and reduced intake under Wave 6.

'South Liverpool' proposals include a brand new, 21st century learning facility for Gateacre Comprehensive - co-locating with Hope (Special) School Centre of Excellence - under Wave 2. Design work on this project is currently underway. St Margaret's Church of England School will also be refurbished under Wave 6.

Councillor Clein added: "One of the key challenges facing schools, not just in Liverpool, but across the country, is declining birthrates and the inevitable drop in pupil numbers. Over the next five years, Liverpool will face significant surplus places in secondary schools.

"This review takes these challenges into account and sets out achieveable plans for high quality, sustainable schools in every part of the city. At the heart of everything laid out in the review is the commitment to improving opportunities and outcomes for every young person in Liverpool."

Secondary schools in the Croxteth area - Croxteth Comprehensive, De La Salle Catholic High and St John Bosco Arts College - are temporarily exempt from the review. The decision has been made to take account of the work which is currently going on to improve life for local residents and promote community cohesion. It is likely that a review of these schools will take place in the near future taking account of the wider needs of the area.