Wirral Grammar School for Boys

Wirral Grammar School for Boys
Motto Sapientia Ianua Vitae
(Wisdom is the Gateway to Life)
Established 1931
Type Grammar school;
Academy
Headteacher David R. Hazeldine
Chair of Governors Brian Edmondson
Location Cross Lane
Bebington
Merseyside
CH63 3AQ
England Coordinates: 53°22′03″N 3°09′47″W / 53.3675°N 3.163°W
DfE number ???/5401
DfE URN 137476 Tables
Ofsted Reports
Students 1049
Gender Boys
Ages 11–18
Houses      Barber
     Dodds
     Hodgson
     Lever
Colours Black and blue         
Publication Nuntius
Website WGSB

Wirral Grammar School for Boys, founded in 1931, is situated on Cross Lane, Bebington, on the Wirral Peninsula in England.

History

Until 1974 the school it was administered by Cheshire County Council, then by Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. Another former part of Cheshire, Trafford, also retained its grammar school system.

Early in 2008 the Wirral LEA secured a £3.1 million grant to replace mobile classrooms with a brick building for the Mathematics department, business studies facilities, some history and geography rooms, an extra Modern Foreign Languages room and another two Science laboratories, and a new Music Centre and several ICT suites. There is now an exterior science area (including a greenhouse), and refurbishment to the main building, including two Sixth Form history and politics classrooms. These new developments were operational by September 2008. An entrance atrium is part of the new development, where art exhibitions are held, featuring pupil work. Refurbishments included those to science classrooms and educational facilities.

In the academic year of 2008-09 the school became a Business and Enterprise College, which provided a grant for development of ICT facilities and the Business Studies department for pupils and the community, including summer classes for ICT, photography and basic Business skills, and ICT suites and business studies classrooms developed in the new building. In 2008 a school radio station was established, called Livewire Radio, broadcasting daily at lunchtimes. Students and teachers host the shows, featuring various musical genres and discussions regarding issues relevant to pupils.

Over the course of summer 2013, development included a new multi-purpose Activity Hall, refurbished Conference Hall, new cookery classrooms and refurbished changing rooms. During the 2012 summer holidays, an outdoor classroom was built as part of the Art Department on land previously occupied by music rooms. The landscaped area is used by the department for observational work and the displaying of 3D pieces. It came into use in September 2012.

Background

Wirral Grammar School is a foundation grammar school, located within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral and requires all potential pupils to take, and pass, the eleven plus exam prior to entry. The 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 grammar schools in England, and remains one of the highest achieving schools in the area, and the country, according to the Times' online survey and the 2007 Department for Education School Performance Tables for 2009.

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.

Curriculum

Lunch Break on the playing fields

The school teaches Spanish, Chemistry, Biology and Physics, English, Mathematics, French, History, Geography, Technology, Art, Music, Information Technology, Religious Studies, P.E., and Games, including rugby union, hockey, badminton, cricket, basketball cross-country running and athletics.

Previously Latin, Greek, Russian were taught. 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.

GCSE and/or A-Level courses 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: Classics, including Latin, Greek and Ancient History; Modern Studies, including English Literature, French or Geography, German or History,; and Science, including Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.

Extracurricular activities

Sport

The school has been commended for its sporting commitment,[1] with particular efforts in Rugby union, with a 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. The First Eleven hockey team became only the second WGSB side to win the Wirral Cup. 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.

Drama and music

View of Wirral Grammar School for Boys

The school's Drama Society has produced a number of plays and musicals jointly with the neighbouring Wirral Grammar School for Girls. The Music Society provides tours for the Concert Band and the Choir, recently performing in the Black Forest in Germany, Canada, Italy, Spain, Austria and a tour of France including performances in both the South of France and 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.

Awards and recognition

View of Wirral Grammar School for Boys

Academically, the school has received high standards, although it had previously been suggested that these could be further improved.[1] In 2005 GCE 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.

Headmasters

Former teachers

Notable former pupils

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ofsted Inspection Report, 11 April 2006. Retrieved 19 March 2009
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ http://www.wirralnews.co.uk/news/local-news/youngest-ba-captain-mum-happy-6589375
  4. ↑ Rugby mourns passing of former RFU Secretary Weighill

Bibliography

External links

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