COOPERATION and liaison is the vision behind the proposed rebrand of Padgate High School.

Lysander High School, the chosen name, was coined following extensive planning and consulting with the Insall Road school’s governing body, staff, pupils and parents, according to staff.

The name is primarily based around the Army aircraft Westland Lysander, which was used during the Second World War.

The plane provides a link with the former Padgate RAF camp where basic training for air force recruits took place.

Drew Rowlands, deputy head at the school, said the name also complimented many of the roads in the area that are named after wartime aeroplanes – such as Valiant Close and Lancaster Close.

He said: “My own view is take account of the heritage of the area. I have never worked anywhere where there has been such rich heritage before, Bob Monkhouse and Bruce Forsyth were trained here.”

Lysander also represents the one of the lovers in the Shakespeare play A Midsummer Night's Dream.

“And it is the name of a Greek admiral who won a war and brought peace to the whole area,” added Mr Rowlands.

Talks about the rebrand began last September and a handful of names were shortlisted to represent the integration of the establishment’s extended catchment area following the proposed closure of Woolston Community High School in 2012.

Pupils originally opted for their school to be called Phoenix Park or Phoenix High to symbolise a new start by rising from the ashes.

Alison Sherman, head teacher, said the idea was not taken after the majority of people felt that it would send out the wrong message about the specialist learning and technology school.

Mr Rowlands added: “We don’t feel we are rising from the ashes, this is the best school I have worked in, it has a massive potential over the next three to five years.

“Giving the school a connotation of rising from the ashes doesn’t represent what the school actually is. It doesn’t have any connotations with the RAF and doesn’t have a true meaning of education.”

He admitted that changing to a name that has no significance is wrong but explained it is justified when the idea behind it can be put into reality for the betterment of the school.

Mrs Sherman said that new pupils starting in year seven at the school in September will be expected to wear the new uniform and that the old design will be phased out gradually.

The head teacher clarified that the school has not spent any extra money on the change and that the £4,000 given by the council included £1,500 spent on a new propsectus a year ago.

The brochure was necessary due to Mrs Sherman taking over the role as head teacher.

Mrs Sherman said councillors were not going to be left out of the loop and that the next stage of the process was to share the ideas with them. She has already met with several elected members and is happy to discuss the plans.