More than 100 people have already signed up opposing the plan to re-name Prescot School as Knowsley Park Centre for Learning - serving Prescot, Whiston and the wider community.

Organisers behind the Prescotian - a website for former Prescot School pupils - have branded the new name "politically correct madness".

They plan to present their petition to education bosses before the start of the next school term in a bid to force a u-turn.

The far from snappy name was settled upon by a temporary governing body (TGB) after months of wranglings. But there are now fears that the title – dubbed one of the world's longest school names – could render the Knowsley Park Lane school a laughing stock before it even opens.

The name was dreamt up as a compromise when Prescot School merged with Higherside Comprehensive in Whiston but opponents are angry it fails to reflect Prescot School's history.

Prescot Councillor Marjorie Sommerfield, the borough's shadow education spokeswoman, said she first became concerned after early name suggestions did not even include the word Prescot in the title.

Coun Sommerfield said: "The TGB obviously wanted a break from the past and a new start. But Prescot School has been a fixture in the town since 1544.

"We argued that leaving Prescot out of the title would take away some of the identity of this historic town.

"To me, Knowsley Park refers to Lord Derby's estate. The name doesn't have any identity or impact.

"We acknowledge that Whiston needs to be in the title because this school will serve pupils there too. But why couldn't it just be called Prescot and Whiston Learning Centre?"

The new school, one of seven multi-million pound secondary schools the council refer to as centres for learning, will reportedly not only use its full name on a sign outside the school – but on official stationery, marketing and letters too.

A spokeswoman for Knowsley Council confirmed that consultation on the name of the new school began last October when the principal, Marion Farrell, prepared a leaflet asking pupils and community members for their ideas.

Following the consultation, 151 responses were received and the TGB all voted in favour of Knowsley Park Centre for Learning in February.
However, as the Prescot Lib Dems are not represented on the body, further meetings took place in March and April – by which time the TGB agreed to refer to the school as 'Knowsley Park Centre for Learning – serving Prescot, Whiston and the wider community'.

The council spokeswoman said: "The TGB felt that this name reflected the new identity of the Centre; particularly that it is a completely new entity to the previous donating Secondary Schools.

"The Centre is in Knowsley and is also in Knowsley Park Lane so they felt it was fitting that this name be adopted."

* Sign the petition online at