Work has begun to convert the former Life Wirral school in New Brighton into five “high-end” apartments, after the school closed following an abuse scandal.
The former private school, which catered to students with special educational needs such as autism and ADHD, was the subject of a Panorama documentary that exposed staff bullying and assaulting students. An undercover reporter worked at the school for seven weeks and covertly recorded several incidents for the documentary ‘Cruelty in the Classroom’ in June 2024.
Abuse convictions
Three men who worked at the school were prosecuted following the documentary, with two convicted of assault by beating. Elliot Millar, 22, pleaded guilty to five charges, including common assault, assault by beating and using threatening words, likely to cause alarm or distress, at Sefton Magistrates on 18 November 2024. He was jailed for 12 weeks. The judge described Millar’s treatment of some pupils as “cruel bullying”, “gratuitous degradation” and an abuse of trust.
Daniel McNulty-Doyle, 22, a wellbeing coach at the school since October 2022, was found guilty after a trial at Sefton Magistrates’ Court on 27 March 2024 of using threatening, abusive behaviour, likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. He was convicted after a full trial on 27 March 2025. The offence is punishable by a fine only and he was fined £250, with £50 compensation to the victim. Oliver Nugent, 27, pleaded guilty to assault by beating and was sentenced to 12 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, on 29 April 2025 at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.
Vandalism and redevelopment
Days after the documentary aired on the BBC, the building was targeted by vandals, pelted with at least a dozen eggs, and three windows were smashed. The window of one of the school’s vans was also smashed in the car park. The owners of the building pleaded with people not to attack their property, describing how they were “terrified” by the vandalism.
Plans were approved in January this year for five “high-end” apartments within the former school building. The development, named Victoria Lofts, is described by developers as a “considered collection of one and two-bedroom apartments in the heart of New Brighton”. Posters advertising “coastal living, thoughtfully reimagined” have been erected around the site, and a sign pleading with passers-by to abstain from damaging the building has been removed.
Developer response
A spokesperson for Victoria Lofts said: “The building has been vacant for some time and Victoria Lofts represents a significant investment in bringing it back into positive use, improving its appearance and creating a considered collection of new homes in the heart of New Brighton. The response since we unveiled Victoria Lofts has been extremely encouraging. Our early marketing and VIP registration campaign has generated strong interest, and we're pleased that people appear excited to see investment being made in the property and its future.”
In an Instagram post last week, the developers said: “We’re still keeping a few things under wraps for now, but over the coming weeks and months we’ll be revealing more about the development, the apartments and our plans for this distinctive New Brighton building.” The building is expected to be completed in 2027, according to developers. The firm behind the school, Life Schools Ltd, had been planning a new school at the Queen’s Royal Hotel on New Brighton’s seafront prior to the documentary, but the owners of the hotel pulled out of negotiations following the revelations. The independent school was regulated by the Department for Education and Ofsted but was also paid more than £2.2m by Wirral Council. Ofsted rated the school “good” and found no issues during an emergency inspection called after concerns were raised.
