Birkenhead High School Academy is an all-ability state funded girls'
Academy
An academy ( Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy ...
in
Birkenhead
Birkenhead (; cy, Penbedw) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England; historically, it was part of Cheshire until 1974. The town is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the south bank of the River Mersey, opposite Liver ...
,
Wirral.
Introduction
Birkenhead High School was the main Wirral private girls' school, but in 2010 became a non-fee paying Academy. It remains a member of the
Girls' Day School Trust
The Girls' Day School Trust (GDST) is a group of 25 independent schools, including two academies, in England and Wales, catering for girls aged 3 to 18. It is the largest group of independent schools in the UK, and educates 20,000 girls each ye ...
, a national educational charity based in London.
The school has sports facilities with a number of tennis courts, all-weather pitches, gymnasium and swimming pool. In addition to a wide academic curriculum, aided by IT facilities, there is a music and drama scene and a range of after school clubs.
It is situated on Devonshire Place just north of Trinity with Palm Grove Church. The school lies within the parish of
Christ Church, Birkenhead although the tennis courts are in the parish of
St Saviour's, and the playing fields are in the parish of St. James, Birkenhead.
History
The High Schools Company opened Birkenhead High School for Girls in 1884 in a building on Village Road in
Oxton,
Birkenhead
Birkenhead (; cy, Penbedw) is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England; historically, it was part of Cheshire until 1974. The town is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the south bank of the River Mersey, opposite Liver ...
. In 1901 it was purchased by the
Girls' Public Day School Company
The Girls' Day School Trust (GDST) is a group of 25 independent schools, including two academies, in England and Wales, catering for girls aged 3 to 18. It is the largest group of independent schools in the UK, and educates 20,000 girls each ye ...
(GPDSC). The school moved into 86 Devonshire Place in September 1905. In 1918 the school acquired 31 Devonshire Place to be the home of the junior school. During World War Two the girls were evacuated to
Shrewsbury High School.
Headmistresses
* 1917–1923: Edith Mabel Lucy Lees, (1878–1956)
* 1923–1930: Jessie Margaret Hunter McCaig (d. 1965)
* 1930–1952: H N Stephen (1891–1984)
* 1952–1963: Phyllis Edith Winter
* 1964–1970: Irene Hindmarsh, afterwards Principal of
St Aidan's College,
Durham University
, mottoeng = Her foundations are upon the holy hills (Psalm 87:1)
, established = (university status)
, type = Public
, academic_staff = 1,830 (2020)
, administrative_staff = 2,640 (2018/19)
, chancellor = Sir Thomas Allen
, vice_chan ...
, 1970–1988
* 1971–1986: Freda Kellett
* 1986–c.1997: Kathleen Irving
*Present: Rebecca Mahony
Transition to Academy
Parents of pupils at the school were informed in September 2007 that the school was to become an
Academy
An academy ( Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy ...
, with the GDST (Girls' Day School Trust) as the founding sponsor, so that the benefits of the schools might reach a wider cross-section of the community. Since then the facilities have been improved with a £12million building project.
As part of the state-funded system the Academy no longer charges fees. Fair
banding is used to ensure a comprehensive intake of the full range of academic ability. Sixth Form admission is six GCSE passes at Grade B or above, including English and mathematics. The school's particular specialisms are Music and Mathematics.
File:Senior school, BHSA.jpg, Senior school
File:Junior school, BHSA.jpg, New junior school building
Local response to Academy decision
In response to the school's decision to become a state-funded all-ability Academy, and the consequent abandonment of the planned merger between the schools which had been actually initiated by Birkenhead High School, the neighbouring
Birkenhead School
Birkenhead School is an independent, academically-selective, co-educational day school located in Oxton, Wirral, in North West England. The school offers educational opportunities for girls and boys from three months to eighteen years of age. ...
became fully co-educational in September 2008, stating that it had "the desire to play our role in providing a selective and independent choice for all children on Wirral, whether boys or girls". Subsequently, it has completed a £2m investment to support its co-educational future and deal with increased numbers.
Currently around 28% of its pupils are female with its initial intake primarily from Birkenhead High School Academy.
Academic Performance and the Impact of Academy Status
In 2009, the last year of Birkenhead High School as an independent selective school, it achieved the best A level results in Wirral, measured as points per entry, together with Birkenhead School, a co-educational independent selective school.
In 2011, Birkenhead High School Academy received national recognition for the proportion of top grades achieved by its pupils in the GCSE examinations. It qualified as one of the top 10% of non-selective schools in England, where at least 19% of students gained 5A*-A grades, including English and Maths, proving itself to be one of the best schools in the country.
Notable former pupils
*
Ann Bell
Ann Forrest Bell (born 29 April 1938) is a British actress, best known for playing war internee Marion Jefferson in the BBC Second World War drama series '' Tenko'' (1981–84).
She was born in Wallasey, Cheshire, the daughter of John Forrest ...
, actress
* Professor
Jane Guyer
Jane I. Guyer (born 31 December 1943) is the George Armstrong Kelly Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Johns Hopkins University.
Biography
Before coming to Hopkins, Guyer taught at Northwestern University, Harvard University, and Bos ...
, nee Mason, Professor of Anthropology and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA.
*
Nicola Horlick, fund manager
*
Penny Hughes
Penny Hughes CBE (born 1959) is a British businesswoman, and the chair of IQ Student Accommodation. She is the former chair of Aston Martin and The Gym Group.
Early life
Hughes was born in West Kirby, the youngest of three daughters in a mi ...
, businesswoman
*
Marian Lines, actress and writer
* Dame
Mary Marsh
Dame Mary Elizabeth Marsh (born 17 August 1946) is non-executive director of HSBC Bank plc and member of the governing body at London Business School. She is chair of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) board of trustees ...
, chief executive from 2000–8 of the
NSPCC
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) is a British child protection charity.
History
Victorian era
On a trip to New York in 1881, Liverpudlian businessman Thomas Agnew was inspired by a visit to the New Yor ...
* Dame
Patricia Routledge
Dame Katherine Patricia Routledge, (; born 17 February 1929) is an English actress, singer and broadcaster. For her role as Hyacinth Bucket in the BBC sitcom ''Keeping Up Appearances'' (1990–1995), she was nominated for the BAFTA TV Award f ...
CBE, actress.
* Dr
Sheila Shribman
Sheila Shribman is a British pediatrician. Shribman was most notable for the successful integration of children's services in hospital, community and mental health settings, working closely with the local authority. She was named a Commander of ...
, doctor, national clinical director for children.
*
Charlotte Voake
Charlotte Voake (born 1957) is a Welsh children's illustrator who has won several awards including the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize in 1997.
Life and career
Voake was born and raised in Wales. She studied art history at the University of London ...
, children's author and illustrator
* Dame
Frances Yates
Dame Frances Amelia Yates (28 November 1899 – 29 September 1981) was an English historian of the Renaissance, who wrote books on esoteric history.
After attaining an MA in French at University College London, she began to publish her resear ...
OBE, historian.
*
Sam Quek
Samantha Ann Quek, MBE (born 18 October 1988) is an English former field hockey player, and television personality. She played as a defender for both the England and Great Britain teams, wearing squad number 13, and won gold as part of the Brit ...
- England Hockey Player and Gold Medalist at Rio.
References
External links
School websiteEduBase
{{authority control
Academies in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
Schools of the Girls' Day School Trust
Girls' schools in Merseyside
Educational institutions established in 1884
1884 establishments in England
Secondary schools in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
Primary schools in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
Schools in Birkenhead