Birkenhead High School Academy

Birkenhead High School Academy

Established	2009
Type	Academy
Religion	Non-denominational
Headteacher	Mrs Chris Mann
Founder	Girls' Day School Trust
Location	86 Devonshire Place Oxton Wirral CH43 1TY England
Local authority	Wirral
DfE number	???/6905
DfE URN	135877
Ofsted	Reports
Gender	Girls
Ages	3–18
Colours	Black and White
Predecessor school	Birkenhead High School for Girls (until 2009)
Website	BHSA

Birkenhead High School Academy is an all-ability state funded girls' Academy in Birkenhead, Wirral.

Contents 1 Admissions 2 History 2.1 Headmistresses 3 Predecessor School Closure and Replacement by All-Ability Academy 3.1 Local response to Academy decision 4 Academic Performance and the Impact of Academy Status 5 Notable former pupils 5.1 Birkenhead High School for Girls (predecessor school) 6 References 7 External links

Admissions

It is a member of the Girls' Day School Trust, a national educational charity based in London. Its predecessor school was Birkenhead High School, which was an independent selective school. In 2009 this closed and was replaced by an Academy, which abandoned academic selection. Birkenhead High School Academy is not fee-paying and is essentially state funded.

It is situated^[1] on Devonshire Place^[2] just north of Trinity with Palm Grove Church. The school lies within the parish of Christ Church, Birkenhead^[3] although the tennis courts^[4] are in the parish of St Saviour's,^[5] and the playing fields are in the parish of St. James, Birkenhead.^[6]

History

The High Schools Company opened Birkenhead High School for Girls in 1884 in a building on Village Road in Oxton, Birkenhead. In 1901 it was purchased by the Girls' Public Day School Company (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.^{[7] [8]}

Headmistresses

• 1917-1923 Edith Mabel Lucy Lees, (1878–1956).^[9]
• 1923-1930 Jessie Margaret Hunter McCaig (d. 1965).^[10]
• 1930-1952 H N Stephen, (1891–1984).^[11]
• 1952-1963 Phyllis Edith Winter.^[12]
• 1964-1970 Irene Hindmarsh, later to be Principal of St Aidan's College, Durham University from 1970–1988.
• 1971-1986 Freda Kellett.^[13]

Predecessor School Closure and Replacement by All-Ability Academy

Parents of pupils at the school were informed in September 2007 that the school was to be replaced by a state-funded all-ability girls' 3-19 Academy, with the GDST as the founding sponsor.

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.^[14] The school's particular specialisms are Music and Mathematics.^[15]

Recently the local authority suggested a collaboration or merger with Prenton High School for Girls, a local 11-16 comprehensive, due to a significant surplus of school places for girls on the Wirral and the significant duplication between the two schools. However, any form of collaboration between the two schools would require the co-operation of the GDST, the governing bodies of both schools and the Local Authority.^[16]

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 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.^[17] Currently around 23% of its pupils are female,^[18] with its initial intake primarily refugees from Birkenhead High School Academy.

Academic Performance and the Impact of Academy Status

In 2009, the last year of Birkenhead High School before its demise, it achieved the best A level results in Wirral, measured as points per entry, together with Birkenhead School, a co-educational independent selective school.^[19] Published results for subsequent years show a steady, material and ongoing decline, as feared and predicted by the Academy refuseniks.

Notable former pupils

Birkenhead High School for Girls (predecessor school)

• Ann Bell, actress
• Sybil Crouch, Director since 1990 of the Taliesin Arts Centre
• Dame May Curwen CBE, administrator,^[20] president of the British Council for Aid to Refugees and National General Secretary of the YWCA of Great Britain from 1930–49
• Nicola Horlick, fund manager^[21]
• Penny Hughes, businesswoman^[22]
• Marian Lines, actress and writer
• Dame Mary Marsh, Chief Executive from 2000-8 of the NSPCC
• Dr Vivienne Nathanson, Director of Professional Activities since 1996 at the British Medical Association (BMA), and Professor at the Durham University School of Medicine and Health^[23]
• Jane Platt, chief executive, National Savings and Investments.^[24]
• Patricia Routledge CBE, actress.^[25]
• Dr Sheila Shribman, doctor, national clinical director for children.^[26]
• Dr Dorothy Thompson, papyrologist, President from 2001-6 of the Association Internationale de Papyrologues, and wife of Michael Crawford (historian)^[27]
• Charlotte Voake, children's author and illustrator
• Dame Frances Yates OBE, historian.^[28]

References

External links

• School website
• EduBase