Wirral Grammar School for Boys

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. 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.

Wirral Grammar School for Boys
Address
Cross Lane

Bebington
,
Merseyside
,
CH63 3AQ

England
Coordinates53.3675°N 3.163°W / 53.3675; -3.163
Information
TypeGrammar school;
Academy
MottoLatin: Sapientia Ianua Vitae
(Wisdom is the Gateway to Life)
Established1931
Local authorityWirral MBC
Department for Education URN137476 Tables
OfstedReports
Chair of GovernorsStella Clarke[1]
Staff120
GenderBoys[2]
Age11 to 18
Enrolment1058[2]
Houses  Barber
  Dodds
  Hodgson
  Lever
Colour(s)  Black   Blue
PublicationNuntius
Former pupilsOld Wirralians
Websitehttp://www.wirralgrammarboys.com

History

On 23 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 Sir William Bromley-Davenport on 26 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,[2] which maintains use of the 11+ for senior school admission.[6]

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.[7]

The school was designated as a Business and Enterprise School in 2006 and became a Business and Enterprise College in 2008.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10]

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.[7]

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.[11]

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, computer science, law, politics, psychology and general studies.

Extracurricular activities

Sport

The school has been commended for its sporting commitment,[12] 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.[13]

Headmasters
  • 1931–54 – James M. Moir
  • 1955–72 – Bernard H. T. Taylor
  • 1972–86 – Peter A. Fishwick
  • 1986–95 – Bernard J. Treacy
  • 1996–2006 – Anthony M. Cooper
  • 2006–2020 – David R. Hazeldine
  • 2020–present – S. Ascroft[14]

Notable former teachers
  • Sir William Houghton, Education Officer of ILEA from 1965–71 (taught in the 1930s)[15]

Notable former pupils

See also

References
  1. "Wirral Grammar School Governors' Annual Review: 2018 -2019" (PDF). WIRRAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL. p. 5. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  2. "Wirral Grammar School for Boys". Get information about schools. GOV.UK. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  3. Gurney-Read, Josie. "Top 100 secondary schools by A-level results 2015". The Telegraph – Education. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  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. "Secondary school admissions timetable". www.wirral.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  7. http://www.wirralgrammarboys.com/uploads/docs/1433508713-School%20Map%20(Map)%20June%2015.png
  8. [email protected], Ofsted Communications Team. (5 November 2010). "Find an inspection report". reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  9. "Business enterprise". Wirral Grammar Boys. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  10. "Live wire radio the wgsb student radio station". Wirral Grammar Boys. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  11. "Subjects". Wirral Grammar Boys. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  12. Wirral Grammar School for Boys: Inspection report. London: OFSTED. 30 April 2009. p. 7.
  13. "School News". Wirral Grammar Boys. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  14. "Staff in Post 2020-2021". www.wirralgrammarboys.com. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  15. "Houghton, Sir William Frederick (1909–1971) Knight Education Officer Ilea | The National Archives". Discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  16. "James eager for more after debut". liverpoolecho.co.uk. The Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  17. Prentice, David (10 November 2007). "How winger Lewis eventually got the boot from Shanks". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  18. "Rugby mourns passing of former RFU Secretary Weighill". espnscrum.com. Retrieved 22 June 2017.

Bibliography
  • The History of Wirral Grammar School for Boys 1931–1991, Murphy, Pete (1991)
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