Wirral Grammar School for Boys
Encyclopedia
Wirral Grammar School for Boys, founded in 1931, is situated on Cross Lane, Bebington
, on the Wirral Peninsula
in England
.
, located within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
and requires all potential pupils to take, and pass, the eleven plus exam exam prior to entry. Former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson
was the school's first Head Boy
, and attended the Sixth Form
there. Today it is one of the few remaining state-run grammar school
s in England, and remains one of the highest achieving schools in the area, according to the Times
on line survey and the 2007 Department for Education School Performance Tables for 2007.
It is situated in Lower Bebington next door to the girls' school, less than a mile from junction 4 of the M53
and Clatterbridge
Hospital. Bebington High School
is nearby to the north, and Port Sunlight
nearby to the east.
A-level results were in the top 90 per cent nationwide, and in 2007 99.4 per cent of pupils sitting the GCSE gained at least five A*-C grade, including Maths and English. The 0.6 per cent was in fact minimum. The 2009 inspection report evidenced further progress in performance and the school received an 'outstanding ' judgement for overall standards.
, solidifying a strong tradition of the sport at the school. The PE department holds tours of the sport, including to Australia
and the United States
. The most notable achiever in recent years is the rugby player Matt Cairns
of Saracens
& England
. Other sporting success has come on the hockey field, most recently the First Eleven became only the second WGSB side to win the Wirral
Cup, usually a stonewall victory for rival school Calday Grange Grammar School
.Also the U16's squad became runners up for the North-West Championships and won the North Championships to take them through to the National Finals, two years on the run.They also beat St. Anslems to become Wirral Champions.
. Recent productions have seen Guys and Dolls
, Into the Woods
, Les Misérables
and Lord of the Flies
enacted on stage. Grease
hit the stage in 2005,Oliver!
was 2006's production; in 2007 it was Fame
; in 2008 it was Little Shop of Horrors
, and in 2009, High School Musical
was produced and once again sold out. The performance for 2010 was a successful production Sweeney Todd. Following this production a smaller performance of Up 'n' Under
took place, retaining several members of the Sweeney Todd cast. In 2001, the then Head of English
, David Yates wrote and directed his own play The Triumphant Return which was very school-centric and was internally acclaimed. The Music Society hosts tours for the Concert Band and the Choir, most recently performing in locations including the Black Forest
in Germany
, Canada
, Italy
, Spain
, Austria
and a tour of France
including performances in both the South of France and the capital, Paris
. Prior to the music tours, the two ensembles occasionally perform at local venues in order to raise funds for the tours. The choir, concert band and orchestra, in addition to several smaller musical groups perform three concerts a year, held in the school hall, as well as a carol service in the nearby St. Andrew's Church at Christmas.
economic strategy teamwork competition and has reached the finals.
- as was the case with German
(which is now not taught within the school) , Spanish
or French
is compulsory in Years 8 and 9. Also in Year 8, the three sciences - Chemistry, Biology and Physics - are separated out (having been taught as a combined science course in Year 7); unless the students show signs of struggling with them (in terms of academic progress), in which case Double Award Science
is taken up. Other subjects include: English
, Mathematics, French
, History, Geography, Technology, Art, Music, Information Technology, Religious Studies, P.E. and Games (which involves rugby union
, hockey, badminton, cricket, basketball
cross-country running and athletics, as well as a number of other sports).
Also in Year 8, pupils are setted for Mathematics
, in six sets. In Year 9, class sizes are made smaller for the sciences and pupils are set for French
. GCSE classes for English
and sciences also employ sets.
The school teaches both French
and Spanish
. The latter subject was introduced in September 2004, replacing the long-taught German
. Earlier in the school's history, Latin
, some Greek
, Russian
and Spanish
were taught for some time. At the beginning of the school's life, French was taught along with Latin. Pupils were later given a choice between French and German. Greek was also given to pupils who showed strength of languages. The previous headmaster, Anthony Cooper, at one point served as a Latin
Master at the school, as well as English Master and Careers Master.
The subjects available for GCSE and/or A-Level include Business Studies, Economics, Electronics, Geology
, Law, Media Studies, Politics, Sociology (AS only), Psychology and General Studies, which also includes a GCSE in Latin
, GCSE Astronomy
, AS
Critical Thinking
and GCSE Philosophy and Ethics
.
Historically, the subjects offered at the school were:
LEA
secured a £3.1 million grant in order to replace the mobile classrooms and replace them with a full-brick building hosting the Mathematics department, Business Studies facilities, some History/Geography rooms, an extra Modern Foreign Languages room and another 2 Science
laboratories, as well as a new Music Centre and several ICT
suites. In addition, there is now an exterior Science area, along with a greenhouse, as well as refurbishment to the main building, including two Sixth Form History and Politics classrooms. Building for this plan made steady progress, and was used in moderation from Easter 2008, despite its official opening and full use from September 2008. An entrance atrium
is part of the new development, where Art Exhibitions are held, featuring student work. Refurbishment to the original main building took place in the Summer 2009 and including the refurbishment of several science classrooms with new workbenches and educational facilities.
In the academic year of 2008/9 the school became a Business and Enterprise College
, which provided a grant for development of ICT
facilities and the Business Studies department. This specialisation was marked with improved ICT facilities, both for students and for the community, including summer classes for ICT, Photography and basic Business skills, as well as several ICT suites and Business Studies classrooms being developed in the new building. In 2008 a school radio station was set up, called Livewire Radio. This broadcasts daily at lunchtimes, and can be heard in the School Hall and Dining Room. Students and teachers host the shows, featuring various musical genres and discussions regarding issues relevant to the pupils.
, retained its grammar school system.
Bebington
Bebington is a small town and electoral ward within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England. It lies south of Liverpool and west southwest of Manchester, along the River Mersey on the eastern side of the Wirral Peninsula...
, on the Wirral Peninsula
Wirral Peninsula
Wirral or the Wirral is a peninsula in North West England. It is bounded by three bodies of water: to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey and to the north by the Irish Sea. Both terms "Wirral" and "the Wirral" are used locally , although the...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Admissions
It is a foundation schoolFoundation school
In England and Wales, a foundation school is a state-funded school in which the governing body has greater freedom in the running of the school than in community schools....
, located within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside, in North West England. It has a population of 311,200, and encompasses of the northern part of the Wirral Peninsula. Major settlements include Birkenhead, Wallasey, Bebington, Heswall, Hoylake and West Kirby. The city of...
and requires all potential pupils to take, and pass, the eleven plus exam exam prior to entry. Former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
was the school's first Head Boy
Head boy
Head Boy and Head Girl are terms commonly used in the British education system, and in private schools throughout the Commonwealth.-United Kingdom:...
, and attended the Sixth Form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
there. Today it is one of the few remaining state-run grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
s in England, and remains one of the highest achieving schools in the area, according to the Times
Times
The Times is a UK daily newspaper, the original English language newspaper titled "Times". Times may also refer to:In newspapers:*The Times , went defunct in 2005*The Times *The Times of Northwest Indiana...
on line survey and the 2007 Department for Education School Performance Tables for 2007.
It is situated in Lower Bebington next door to the girls' school, less than a mile from junction 4 of the M53
M53 motorway
The M53 is a motorway in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral and Cheshire on the Wirral Peninsula in England. It can also be referred to as the Mid Wirral Motorway...
and Clatterbridge
Clatterbridge
Clatterbridge is a hamlet located on the Wirral Peninsula, England. It is situated to the west of the town of Bebington, close to the M53 motorway....
Hospital. Bebington High School
Bebington High School
Bebington High Sports College is a secondary school in Bebington on the Wirral Peninsula, England. The school is located in Bebington within 3 School's Wirral Grammar School for Boys, Wirral Grammar School for Girls and Plesington High....
is nearby to the north, and Port Sunlight
Port Sunlight
Port Sunlight is a model village, suburb and electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England. It is located between Lower Bebington and New Ferry, on the Wirral Peninsula. Between 1894 and 1974 it formed part of Bebington urban district within the county of Cheshire...
nearby to the east.
Achievements
Academically the school has received high standards, although it had previously been suggested that these could be further improved. In 2005 GCEGeneral Certificate of Education
The General Certificate of Education or GCE is an academic qualification that examination boards in the United Kingdom and a few of the Commonwealth countries, notably Sri Lanka, confer to students. The GCE traditionally comprised two levels: the Ordinary Level and the Advanced Level...
A-level results were in the top 90 per cent nationwide, and in 2007 99.4 per cent of pupils sitting the GCSE gained at least five A*-C grade, including Maths and English. The 0.6 per cent was in fact minimum. The 2009 inspection report evidenced further progress in performance and the school received an 'outstanding ' judgement for overall standards.
Sport
The school has been commended for its sporting commitment, with particular efforts in Rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, solidifying a strong tradition of the sport at the school. The PE department holds tours of the sport, including to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The most notable achiever in recent years is the rugby player Matt Cairns
Matt Cairns
Matt Cairns is a rugby union footballer who plays at hooker for Harlequins and has been capped for the England national side as well as representing England in the Saxons and Sevens teams as well as at several age group levels...
of Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
& England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
. Other sporting success has come on the hockey field, most recently the First Eleven became only the second WGSB side to win the Wirral
Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside, in North West England. It has a population of 311,200, and encompasses of the northern part of the Wirral Peninsula. Major settlements include Birkenhead, Wallasey, Bebington, Heswall, Hoylake and West Kirby. The city of...
Cup, usually a stonewall victory for rival school Calday Grange Grammar School
Calday Grange Grammar School
Calday Grange Grammar School is a non-denominational selective state grammar school, founded in 1636, situated on Caldy Hill above the town of West Kirby on the Wirral . The school admits boys from the ages of 11 through to 18, and girls for the sixth form only...
.Also the U16's squad became runners up for the North-West Championships and won the North Championships to take them through to the National Finals, two years on the run.They also beat St. Anslems to become Wirral Champions.
Drama & music
The school's Drama Society, under the direction of Mr Geoff Hinde MBE, has produced a number of plays and musicals jointly with the neighbouring Wirral Grammar School for GirlsWirral Grammar School for Girls
Wirral Grammar School for Girls is an all-girls grammar school located on the Wirral Peninsula, United Kingdom.-Admissions:It is situated on Heath Road, Bebington, on the Wirral Peninsula, England, next door to Wirral Grammar School for Boys. The school consists of lower school and Sixth Form ,...
. Recent productions have seen Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure", two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most notably...
, Into the Woods
Into the Woods
Into the Woods is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986, and premiered on Broadway in 1987. Bernadette Peters' performance as the Witch and Joanna Gleason's portrayal of the Baker's Wife brought acclaim...
, Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
and Lord of the Flies
Lord of the Flies
Lord of the Flies is a novel by Nobel Prize-winning author William Golding about a group of British boys stuck on a deserted island who try to govern themselves, with disastrous results...
enacted on stage. Grease
Grease (musical)
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
hit the stage in 2005,Oliver!
Oliver!
Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
was 2006's production; in 2007 it was Fame
Fame (musical)
A stage musical based on the 1980 musical film Fame has been staged under two titles. The first, 'Fame – The Musical' conceived and developed by David De Silva, is a musical with a book by Jose Fernandez, music by Steve Margoshes and lyrics by Jacques Levy. The musical premiered in 1988 in Miami,...
; in 2008 it was Little Shop of Horrors
Little Shop of Horrors (musical)
Little Shop of Horrors is a rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman...
, and in 2009, High School Musical
High School Musical on Stage!
High School Musical on Stage! is a musical based on the Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical, with music and lyrics by Matthew Gerrard, Robbie Nevil, Ray and Greg Cham, Drew Seeley, Randy Petersen, Kevin Quinn, Andy Dodd, Adam Watts, Bryan Louiselle, David N. Lawrence, Faye Greenberg...
was produced and once again sold out. The performance for 2010 was a successful production Sweeney Todd. Following this production a smaller performance of Up 'n' Under
Up 'n' Under
Up 'n' Under is a comedy by English playwright John Godber, first staged at the Hull Truck Theatre in 1984. The sequel, Up 'n' Under II, followed in 1985....
took place, retaining several members of the Sweeney Todd cast. In 2001, the then Head of English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
, David Yates wrote and directed his own play The Triumphant Return which was very school-centric and was internally acclaimed. The Music Society hosts tours for the Concert Band and the Choir, most recently performing in locations including the Black Forest
Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and a tour of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
including performances in both the South of France and the capital, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Prior to the music tours, the two ensembles occasionally perform at local venues in order to raise funds for the tours. The choir, concert band and orchestra, in addition to several smaller musical groups perform three concerts a year, held in the school hall, as well as a carol service in the nearby St. Andrew's Church at Christmas.
Business
The school has entered teams into the Target Two Point ZeroTarget Two Point Zero
Target Two Point Zero is an interest rate challenge in the UK set by the Bank of England and The Times.- The challenge :Target Two invites students aged 16 to 18 to take on the role of the Monetary Policy Committee to analyse current economic conditions in the UK and the outlook for inflation...
economic strategy teamwork competition and has reached the finals.
Subjects
The school curriculum employs many different subjects. The most recent alteration to the school's subjects was the introduction of SpanishSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
- as was the case with German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
(which is now not taught within the school) , Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
or French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
is compulsory in Years 8 and 9. Also in Year 8, the three sciences - Chemistry, Biology and Physics - are separated out (having been taught as a combined science course in Year 7); unless the students show signs of struggling with them (in terms of academic progress), in which case Double Award Science
Double Award Science
In the United Kingdom, Double Award Science is the combined study of GCSE biology, chemistry and physics that results in two GCSEs. The double award is not as in-depth as studying the individual sciences, and unfortunately a pupil choosing this subject has fewer subjects to choose from at GCSE...
is taken up. Other subjects include: English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Mathematics, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, History, Geography, Technology, Art, Music, Information Technology, Religious Studies, P.E. and Games (which involves rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, hockey, badminton, cricket, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
cross-country running and athletics, as well as a number of other sports).
Also in Year 8, pupils are setted for Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, in six sets. In Year 9, class sizes are made smaller for the sciences and pupils are set for French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. GCSE classes for English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and sciences also employ sets.
The school teaches both French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
. The latter subject was introduced in September 2004, replacing the long-taught German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
. Earlier in the school's history, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, some Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
were taught for some time. At the beginning of the school's life, French was taught along with Latin. Pupils were later given a choice between French and German. Greek was also given to pupils who showed strength of languages. The previous headmaster, Anthony Cooper, at one point served as a Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
Master at the school, as well as English Master and Careers Master.
The subjects available for GCSE and/or A-Level include Business Studies, Economics, Electronics, Geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
, Law, Media Studies, Politics, Sociology (AS only), Psychology and General Studies, which also includes a GCSE in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, GCSE Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, AS
AS
AS may refer to:-Science and technology:* A. S. , a small French car in the 1920s* A.S. Design, a French car* A. S. , a Dutch truck made in the 1920s to 50s* AS One, a German-build, but Liechtenstein-based sportscar...
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking
Critical thinking is the process or method of thinking that questions assumptions. It is a way of deciding whether a claim is true, false, or sometimes true and sometimes false, or partly true and partly false. The origins of critical thinking can be traced in Western thought to the Socratic...
and GCSE Philosophy and Ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
.
Historically, the subjects offered at the school were:
- ClassicsClassicsClassics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
, including LatinLatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, GreekGreek languageGreek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and Ancient HistoryAncient historyAncient history is the study of the written past from the beginning of recorded human history to the Early Middle Ages. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, with Cuneiform script, the oldest discovered form of coherent writing, from the protoliterate period around the 30th century BC... - Modern StudiesModern StudiesModern Studies is a subject unique to the Scottish secondary school curriculum , that is concerned with the study of local, national and international issues from a social, political and economic perspective...
, including English LiteratureEnglish literatureEnglish literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
, FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
or Geography, GermanGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
or History - Science, including Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry
Development plans
Early in 2008, the WirralMetropolitan Borough of Wirral
The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside, in North West England. It has a population of 311,200, and encompasses of the northern part of the Wirral Peninsula. Major settlements include Birkenhead, Wallasey, Bebington, Heswall, Hoylake and West Kirby. The city of...
LEA
Local Education Authority
A local education authority is a local authority in England and Wales that has responsibility for education within its jurisdiction...
secured a £3.1 million grant in order to replace the mobile classrooms and replace them with a full-brick building hosting the Mathematics department, Business Studies facilities, some History/Geography rooms, an extra Modern Foreign Languages room and another 2 Science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
laboratories, as well as a new Music Centre and several ICT
ICT (education)
Information and communication technologies in education deal with the use of information and communication technologies within educational technology.-Purpose:...
suites. In addition, there is now an exterior Science area, along with a greenhouse, as well as refurbishment to the main building, including two Sixth Form History and Politics classrooms. Building for this plan made steady progress, and was used in moderation from Easter 2008, despite its official opening and full use from September 2008. An entrance atrium
Atrium (architecture)
In modern architecture, an atrium is a large open space, often several stories high and having a glazed roof and/or large windows, often situated within a larger multistory building and often located immediately beyond the main entrance doors...
is part of the new development, where Art Exhibitions are held, featuring student work. Refurbishment to the original main building took place in the Summer 2009 and including the refurbishment of several science classrooms with new workbenches and educational facilities.
In the academic year of 2008/9 the school became a Business and Enterprise College
Business and Enterprise College
Business and Enterprise Colleges were introduced in 2002 as part of the Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enables secondary schools to specialise in certain fields...
, which provided a grant for development of ICT
ICT (education)
Information and communication technologies in education deal with the use of information and communication technologies within educational technology.-Purpose:...
facilities and the Business Studies department. This specialisation was marked with improved ICT facilities, both for students and for the community, including summer classes for ICT, Photography and basic Business skills, as well as several ICT suites and Business Studies classrooms being developed in the new building. In 2008 a school radio station was set up, called Livewire Radio. This broadcasts daily at lunchtimes, and can be heard in the School Hall and Dining Room. Students and teachers host the shows, featuring various musical genres and discussions regarding issues relevant to the pupils.
History
Until 1974 it was administered by the Cheshire Education Committee, then the Wirral Education Committee. Another former part of Cheshire, TraffordTrafford
The Metropolitan Borough of Trafford is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It has a population of 211,800, covers , and includes the towns of Altrincham, Partington, Sale, Stretford, and Urmston...
, retained its grammar school system.
Headmasters
- 1931-54: Mr James M. Moir
- 1955-72: Mr Bernard H. T. Taylor- died while appointed to the school during school hours, now has a memorial bench in the remnants of the Inner Quad.
- 1972-86: Mr Peter A. Fishwick
- 1986-95: Mr Bernard J. Treacy
- 1996-2006: Mr Anthony M. Cooper
- 2006–present: Mr David R Hazeldine
Former teachers
- Sir William Houghton, Education Officer of ILEAInner London Education AuthorityThe Inner London Education Authority was the education authority for the 12 inner London boroughs from 1965 until its abolition in 1990.-History:...
from 1965-71 (taught in the 1930s)
Notable former pupils
- Harold WilsonHarold WilsonJames Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
- LabourLabour Party (UK)The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
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in 1932 to 1934, having previously been a pupil at Royds Hall SchoolRoyds Hall SchoolRoyds Hall High School is a comprehensive school in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England.-About Royds Hall High School:Royds Hall High School is a successful and popular Specialist College for Science and Mathematics, which caters for approximately 825 students, aged 11–16, and with a national...
in HuddersfieldHuddersfieldHuddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
) - Air Vice-MarshalAir Vice-MarshalAir vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
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, Lib Dem member of the Welsh AssemblyNational Assembly for WalesThe National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
for South Wales West since 1999 - Christopher Burstall, BBC Omnibus documentary producer
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magazine since 2005 and Editor from 1993-8 of Newsweek InternationalNewsweekNewsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence... - Peter Gibbons, British AirwaysBritish AirwaysBritish Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
(GB AirwaysGB AirwaysGB Airways was a UK airline; prior to its dissolution it was headquartered in "The Beehive," a former terminal building, at City Place Gatwick, London Gatwick Airport in Crawley, West Sussex, England. It operated scheduled services as a British Airways franchise to 30 destinations in Europe and...
) youngest ever aircraft captain at the age of 25 (attended c. 1991-8), and now flying with easyJetEasyJetEasyJet Airline Company Limited is a British airline headquartered at London Luton Airport. It carries more passengers than any other United Kingdom-based airline, operating domestic and international scheduled services on 500 routes between 118 European, North African, and West Asian airports... - Kenneth HalliwellKenneth HalliwellKenneth Halliwell was a British actor and writer. He was the mentor, boyfriend and eventual murderer of playwright Joe Orton.- Childhood :...
- writer and also mentorMentorIn Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcimus or Anchialus. In his old age Mentor was a friend of Odysseus who placed Mentor and Odysseus' foster-brother Eumaeus in charge of his son Telemachus, and of Odysseus' palace, when Odysseus left for the Trojan War.When Athena visited Telemachus she...
, lover and the eventual murderer of playwright Joe OrtonJoe OrtonJohn Kingsley Orton was an English playwright.In a short but prolific career lasting from 1964 until his death, he shocked, outraged and amused audiences with his scandalous black comedies... - Prof Chris Haslett OBE, Professor of Respiratory Medicine since 1990 at the University of EdinburghUniversity of EdinburghThe University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
- Michael Hughes, German historian
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- Professor of Genetics since 1992 at the Galton LaboratoryGalton LaboratoryThe Galton Laboratory, was a laboratory for research into human genetics based at University College London in London, United Kingdom. It was originally established in 1904, and became part of UCL's biology department in 1996....
of University College LondonUniversity College LondonUniversity College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
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, geologist, Professor of Geology from 1974-97 at the University of GlasgowUniversity of GlasgowThe University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
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from 1986-88 of the Geological Society of LondonGeological Society of LondonThe Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"... - Ted RobbinsTed RobbinsTed Robbins is an English comedian, actor, broadcaster, radio DJ, radio personality, voice-over artist and television personalityRobbins currently presents a morning show on BBC Radio Lancashire from 9am - 11am on weekdays....
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(ASGBI) - Ted Rowlands, Baron RowlandsTed Rowlands, Baron RowlandsEdward "Ted" Rowlands, Baron Rowlands, CBE is a Welsh politician, who served as a Labour Party Member of Parliament for over thirty years and as a junior minister in the 1960s and 1970s.-Education:...
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- Michael Unger, Editor from 1977-82 of the Liverpool Daily PostLiverpool Daily PostThe Liverpool Daily Post is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is published Monday to Friday and is published in Merseyside, Cheshire, and North Wales editions, and is a morning paper...
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CBE DFC, Station Commander from 1961-4 of RAF CottesmoreRAF CottesmoreRAF Cottesmore was a Royal Air Force station in Rutland, England, situated between Cottesmore and Market Overton. The station housed all the operational Harrier GR9 squadrons in the Royal Air Force, and No 122 Expeditionary Air Wing...
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from 1974 to 1986
See also
- Wirral Grammar School for GirlsWirral Grammar School for GirlsWirral Grammar School for Girls is an all-girls grammar school located on the Wirral Peninsula, United Kingdom.-Admissions:It is situated on Heath Road, Bebington, on the Wirral Peninsula, England, next door to Wirral Grammar School for Boys. The school consists of lower school and Sixth Form ,...
- Calday Grange Grammar SchoolCalday Grange Grammar SchoolCalday Grange Grammar School is a non-denominational selective state grammar school, founded in 1636, situated on Caldy Hill above the town of West Kirby on the Wirral . The school admits boys from the ages of 11 through to 18, and girls for the sixth form only...
- West Kirby Grammar SchoolWest Kirby Grammar SchoolWest Kirby Grammar School is a girls grammar school and sixth form college located in the town of West Kirby on the Wirral Peninsula, England. The school currently has 1182 students on roll of whom most are girls ....
- Bebington High SchoolBebington High SchoolBebington High Sports College is a secondary school in Bebington on the Wirral Peninsula, England. The school is located in Bebington within 3 School's Wirral Grammar School for Boys, Wirral Grammar School for Girls and Plesington High....