Coordinates: 53°20′53″N 3°00′47″W / 53.348°N 3.013°W / 53.348; -3.013

Wirral Grammar School for Boys

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Wirral Grammar School for Boys

School crest

Wirral Grammar School for Boys, Cross Lane
Address
Map
Cross Lane

Bebington
,
Merseyside
,
CH63 3AQ

England
Coordinates53°20′53″N 3°00′47″W / 53.348°N 3.013°W / 53.348; -3.013
Information
Type11–18 boys Grammar school;
Academy
MottoLatin: Sapientia Ianua Vitae
(Wisdom is the Gateway to Life)
Established1931
Local authorityWirral MBC
Department for Education URN137476 Tables
OfstedReports
Chair of TrustAndrew Lawrence [1]
Head teacherSimon Ascroft
Staff120
GenderBoys [3]
Age11 to 18
Enrolment1,057 (2022) [2]
Houses  Barber
  Dodds
  Hodgson
  Lever
Colour(s)  
PublicationNuntius
Former pupilsOld Wirralians
WebsiteWirral Grammar School for Boys

Wirral Grammar School for Boys is an 11–18 boys maintained selective grammar school founded in 1931. 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[4] and 145th in the DfE GCSE table in the same year,[5] but has not been inspected since its conversion to academy status.

The schools most recent Ofsted inspection occurred in November 2022, with inspectors grading the school overall as "Good". By November 2022, a total of 1,057 boys attended the school, 271 of which were in the schools Sixth Form provision. [6]

History

Establishment

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.[7]

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,[8] which maintains use of the 11+ for senior school admission.[8]

Harold Wilson

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 and was the school's first Head Boy in 1934.[9]

Expansion

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.[10]

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.[11]

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.[12]

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.[10]

Enterprise School

The school was designated as a Business and Enterprise School in 2006 and became a Business and Enterprise College in 2008.[13] 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.

Overview

Extra–curricular

Main student entrance for boys at the school

The school has been commended for its sporting commitment,[14] 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 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.

Headmasters

  • 1931–54 – James M. Moir
  • 1955–72 – Bernard H. T. Taylor
  • 1972–86 – Peter A. Fishwick
  • 1986–97 – Bernard J. Treacy
  • 1997–2006 – Anthony M. Cooper
  • 2006–2020 – David R. Hazeldine
  • 2020–Present – Simon Ascroft

Interim headmasters have included O. Wilson (1954), B. Thompson (1986, 1997)[7] and A. P. White (2020).

Notable former pupils

See also: Category:People educated at Wirral Grammar School for Boys
Plaque to Harold Wilson, Prime Minister, to the right of the main entrance of Wirral Grammar School for Boys Cross Lane, Bebington

See also

References

  1. ^ "Inspection Report" (PDF). Ofsted. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Inspection Report" (PDF). Ofsted. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Inspection Report" (PDF). Ofsted. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  4. ^ Gurney-Read, Josie (28 March 2016). "Top 100 secondary schools by A-level results 2015". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  5. ^ School performance data service.gov.uk [dead link]
  6. ^ "Inspection Report" (PDF). Ofsted. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  7. ^ a b Murphy, Peter W. (1991). The History of Wirral Grammar School for Boys, 1931–1991 (1st ed.). Oxton: Knightprint Ltd.
  8. ^ a b "Secondary school admissions timetable". www.wirral.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  9. ^ Wirral Grammar School unveils plaque honouring its most famous 'old-boy' Harold Wilson
  10. ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ^ "Business enterprise". Wirral Grammar Boys. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  12. ^ "Live wire radio the wgsb student radio station". Wirral Grammar Boys. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  13. ^ Ofsted Communications Team (5 November 2010). "Find an inspection report". reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  14. ^ Wirral Grammar School for Boys: Inspection report. London: OFSTED. 30 April 2009. p. 7.
  15. ^ "James eager for more after debut". liverpoolecho.co.uk. The Liverpool Echo. 12 May 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  16. ^ Prentice, David (10 November 2007). "How winger Lewis eventually got the boot from Shanks". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  17. ^ "Rugby mourns passing of former RFU Secretary Weighill". espnscrum.com. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  18. ^ "Harold Wilson - Number 10". www.number10.gov.uk:80. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2022.

Bibliography

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

External links

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