Founded at the turn of the last century, it moved in 1915 to its present agreeable site in a Victorian residential suburb near the university. The prep school is on a separate campus nearby. The school is a mile and a half from the city centre and just 5 miles from the Peak District National Park. The sixth-form was established in 1988 and girls were first admitted to it in 1995. There is an on-going programme to develop academic and sporting facilities. It is a Christian school with an emphasis on developing the whole person and all pupils are expected to attend morning prayers. Examination results are very good. All members of the school play games weekly and outdoor pursuits play an important part in the overall leadership training programme. There are regular training sessions in each age group, leading to a major expedition; a fourth-form camp is held annually in Snowdonia. Virtually all third-form take the bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award and an increasing number progress to silver and gold.
Pupils: Total age range 4-18; 833 day pupils (783 boys, 50 girls). Junior department 4-11, 272 boys. Senior department 11-18, 561 pupils (511 boys, 50 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages 4, 7, 11 and 16. Own exam and interview; for sixth form entry, interview and good GCSEs. No special skills or religious requirements. Approximately 67% senior intake from own prep department.
Approx 12 scholarships, up to 25% of fees: academic and music (at 11 and 16); design technology and Ogden science scholarship (at 16). Bursaries and discounts may be available up to 100% of fees, including clergy discounts. Parents not expected to buy textbooks except GCSE English literature and all AS/A-level text books.
Head Master: Dr Paul Owen, in post from 2010. Educated at Calthorpe Park Comprehensive School (Hampshire) and Winchester College, and at Cambridge University (physics and PhD). Previously Academic Deputy Head, Housemaster and physics teacher at Wellington School, Somerset. Head of Prep School: Chris Burch, in post from 2009. Previously Deputy Head of Great Walstead School, West Sussex.Teaching staff: 52 full time, 17 part time. Annual turnover 4%.
GCSE: 75 pupils in fifth year: 92% gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects and 8% in 5-7 subjects. A-levels: 77 in upper sixth; 82% passed in 4+ subjects, 17% in 3 subjects, with an average final point score of 439.
Approx 95% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (15% after a gap year), up to 10% to Oxbridge. 10% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 25% in science and engineering, 15% in law, 30% in humanities and social sciences, 10% in art and design, 10% in vocational subjects.
GCSE, AS and A-levels, including AS Extended Project. 28 subjects offered at AS/A-level (including theatre studies, PE). Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; in addition, all take AS-level general studies, most take A-level. 74% take a mixture of arts and sciences. Vocational: Work experience (1 week) for all lower sixth. Special provision: Specialist teachers for dyslexic pupils. Languages: French, German and Spanish to GCSE and A-level. Regular exchanges to France, Germany and Spain; French, German and Spanish assistants; satellite TV. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. A-level computing popular. 200+ networked computers solely for pupil use (9 hours a day), many with email and internet access.
Music: Up to 25% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 7 musical groups including jazz, swing bands, quartet, 2 orchestras, choir. Drama: Some pupils are involved in school and other productions. Recent productions include Lord of the Flies and Little Shop of Horrors. Some pupils in productions at Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield. Art and design: On average, 20 take GCSE, 10 A-level.
Sport: Rugby, soccer, cricket, athletics compulsory. Optional: tennis, swimming, basketball, golf. A-level PE may be taken. County representatives in rugby and cricket. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Large number of clubs, including debating, chess, war games, Greek, Japanese, DT, fencing, kick-boxing, bridge, music, drama, Christian Union.
Uniform: School uniform worn throughout. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Head of school, prefects, head of house and house prefects, appointed by the Head Master. Religion: Christian school; attendance at religious worship compulsory. Social: Trips overseas to eg Germany, France, Spain, Nepal, Rome; also skiing. Pupils allowed to bring own cars. Meals self-service. School shop.
Pupils failing to produce homework once could expect, at most, supervision; detention if unsatisfactory. Those in possession of cannabis on the premises likely to be suspended at least; expulsion for pushers.
Old Birkdalians Association, is run by the school.
Mr Justice Paul Kennedy (High Court judge); Colonel John Boddy (High Sheriff); Michael Palin (actor and presenter); Rex Harrison (actor); Mark Roe (golfer); Richard Allan MP.
|
