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 D.R. Hazeldine[1]
Senior Deputy Headteacher K.T. Taws[2]
Chair of Governors Mrs S Clarke MBE[1]
Location Cross Lane
Bebington
Merseyside
CH63 3AQ
England
Coordinates: 53°22′03″N 3°09′47″W / 53.3675°N 3.163°W / 53.3675; -3.163
Local authority Wirral MBC
DfE number 344/5401
DfE URN 137476 Tables
Ofsted Reports
Staff 120
Students 1077[1]
Gender Boys
Ages 11–18
Houses      Barber
     Dodds
     Hodgson
     Lever
Colours      Black      Blue
Publication Nuntius
Website WGSB

Wirral Grammar School for Boys was founded in 1931 as a maintained selective grammar school for boys aged 11—18. It is situated on a 9.1 acres (3.7 ha) site to the west of Port Sunlight at Cross Lane, Bebington, on the Wirral Peninsula in England. The current headmaster, David Hazeldine, has been in post since 2006. Academically successful, the school was placed 42nd in the top 100 in the Daily Telegraph 'A' level table in 2015.[3] and 145th in the DfE GCSE table in the same year)[4] but has not been inspected since its conversion to academy status. The school's main claim to fame lies in being the alma mater of former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Harold Wilson, who was a member of the sixth form from 1932 to 1934 and was the school's first Head Boy.

History

On 23rd March 1925, Cheshire County Council passed a resolution to build a new secondary school in Bebington. Designed by the County architect, F Anstead Browne, the new school was opened by the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, Brigadier-General SirWilliam Bromley-Davenport on 26th September 1931.[5]

The school was administered by Cheshire County Council until the council was dissolved in 1974; since then it has been administered by Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council,[6] which maintains use of the 11+ for senior school admission.[7]

In 2008 the borough council resolved 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, additional science laboratories, a new music centre and several ICT suites. There is now an exterior science area (including a greenhouse), and refurbishment of the main building included two sixth form history and politics classrooms. An entrance atrium, where exhibitions of pupils' work are held, is part of the new development.[8]

The school was designated as a Business and Enterprise School in 2006 and became a Business and Enterprise College in 2008.[9] This provided a grant for development of ICT facilities and for the business studies department to benefit both pupils and the wider community, including summer classes in ICT, photography and basic business skills. ICT suites and business studies classrooms were also developed in the new building. Although special funding for such colleges ended in 2010, the schools has chosen to retain its focus on business and enterprise.[10]

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.[11]

Over the course of summer 2013, further development included a new multi-purpose activity hall, refurbished conference hall, new cookery classrooms and refurbished changing rooms. During the summer of 2012, 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 3-d pieces. It came into use in September 2012.[8]

Curriculum

Lunch Break on the playing fields

Subjects taught include the core subjects of English, mathematics, chemistry, biology and physics, plus French, history, geography, DT, art, music, IT, RS, Spanish and P.E..[12]

Previously Latin, Greek and Russian were options. 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 provided for pupils who showed strength in 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.[12]

Extracurricular activities

Sport

The school has been commended for its sporting commitment,[13] with particular efforts in Rugby union, with a tradition of the sport at the school. School rugby teams often tour, including to Australia and the United States. The most notable achiever in recent years is the rugby player Matt Cairns of Saracens & England. Other sports promoted in the school include association football, athletics, badminton, basketball, cross country running, handball and volleyball.

Other outdoor activities (developed at the school's outdoor centres on Anglesey and near Mold) include abseiling, caving, climbing, raft building and various high level rope activities.

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, having performed in the Black Forest, Canada, Italy, Spain, Austria and 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, Bebington, at Christmas.[14]

Headmasters

Notable former teachers

Notable former pupils

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 http://www.education.gov.uk/edubase/establishment/summary.xhtml?urn=137476
  2. ↑ http://www.wirralgrammarboys.com/page/staff-room-2013
  3. ↑ Gurney-Read, Josie. "Top 100 secondary schools by A-level results 2015". The Telegraph - Education. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  4. ↑ https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/schools-by-type?step=phase&geographic=all&region=0&phase=secondary&orderby=ks4prov.0.PTL2BASICS_LL_PTQ_EE&orderdir=asc&datatype=percent&sortpolicy=inversepolicy&page=3
  5. ↑ Murphy, Peter W. (1991). The history of Wirral Grammar School for Boys, 1931-1991 (1st ed.). Oxton: Knightprint Ltd.
  6. ↑ https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/137476
  7. ↑ https://www.wirral.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-admissions/secondary-school-admissions-timetable
  8. 1 2 http://www.wirralgrammarboys.com/uploads/docs/1433508713-School%20Map%20(Map)%20June%2015.png
  9. ↑ https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/137476
  10. ↑ http://www.wirralgrammarboys.com/page/business-enterprise
  11. ↑ http://www.wirralgrammarboys.com/page/live-wire-radio-the-wgsb-student-radio-station
  12. 1 2 http://www.wirralgrammarboys.com/subject/
  13. ↑ Wirral Grammar School for Boys: Inspection report. London: OFSTED. 2009-04-30. p. 7.
  14. ↑ http://www.wirralgrammarboys.com/news/244
  15. ↑ http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F33386
  16. ↑ http://www.wirralnews.co.uk/news/local-news/youngest-ba-captain-mum-happy-6589375
  17. ↑ "James eager for more after debut". liverpoolecho.co.uk. The Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  18. ↑ Rugby mourns passing of former RFU Secretary Weighill
  19. ↑

Bibliography

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