Headteacher's Welcome Message

Welcome to Wirral Grammar School!

Our aim is to reflect some aspects of life at Wirral Grammar School through our school web-site. Of course a web-site can only convey part of the story. Visitors to our school are always impressed by what they see. We have a long tradition of high academic standards, our school community is well ordered and we very effectively blend formality with informality. I have been in post as Headteacher for over twelve months and have found the school to be happy, caring and committed to providing the best opportunities for pupils. Our school is well-ordered, friendly, and supportive. We believe that pupils who are happy and well cared for achieve to the best of their ability. Examination results are outstanding.

Parents, students and staff believe that we have a fine school with a outstanding record of developing the talent of our pupils to the full. We set very high standards, encouraging all our boys to maximise their potential both academically and through an extensive range of enrichment opportunities. At Wirral Grammar School, our boys work hard and play hard.

We pride ourselves in having a close working relationship with parents. Each boy’s success is dependent on the strength of that partnership between school and home. We are very achievement focused. Each boy is set challenging but realistic targets and we monitor performance against those targets each term. Life at Wirral Grammar is about so much more than getting superb exam results. You will see from the news section of the web site that there is a lot going on here: visits, overseas excursions, musical events, wide-ranging participation in sport and so much more. Over one third of boys are learning to play musical instruments. Our new facilities include two orchestra/teaching rooms, a recording studio and individual practice rooms. Twenty peripatetic teachers provide music tuition at lunchtimes and after school. Parents and pupils will be asked to register their interest in music lessons prior to starting in September. Reports on our extra-curricular activities are reported each term in our news publication called ‘Nuntius’. Copies of previous issues of Nuntius are available from this link.

Our school was founded in 1931and since then it has continued to provide an outstanding education for boys aged between eleven and eighteen years. We are a state Grammar School, not a fee paying school. The vast majority of our students stay with us through into the Sixth Form. Almost all of our Upper Sixth leavers go on to higher education and we pride ourselves on excellent counselling and careers support, which takes account of the needs of each individual and places them on the road for future success.

Wirral Grammar School is a selective school. Admission into Year 7 from Year 6 is via the Local Authority admissions process. Boys take the 11+ assessment in their primary schools (if within Wirral), or at Wirral Grammar School (if outside Wirral). Admission to any other year group is managed by Wirral Grammar School itself and depends upon whether there are places available. Full details regarding admission arrangements are available from the admissions section of this web-site.

The staff of the school is highly qualified, stable and dedicated. Boys are given every help and encouragement to succeed in their studies and socially. They are also given every opportunity to make full use of the school's extensive resources, including a new Technology building (opened in July 2003), additional Science laboratories (opened in July 1999), four ICT suites, a well-stocked library and resource centre as well as 27 acres of playing fields on the school site.

We have a new building and refurbishment programme that is well underway and will be complete by September 2008. This is a £4 million investment that will provide new facilities for Mathematics, Business Education, ICT, Music and Biology. The rest of the school is being re-furbished and we are investing in new ICT infrastructure throughout. New technologies are providing exciting opportunities to develop innovative teaching methods. ‘Anywhere, anytime learning’ is fast becoming a reality at Wirral Grammar School. Boys can complete revision and exam activities anywhere that there is internet provision and teachers can view pupil progress through web-based access. Our Managed Learning Environment will provide all boys with access to school produced resources from anywhere.

Wirral Grammar School is a Foundation School. This means that we operate with a greater degree of independence. All staff are employed by the school and the Governors own the school building and land. A recent decision to sell some surplus land to create an additional £400,000 of revenue to invest in new facilities, illustrates how we are able to use our Foundation status to meet the immediate needs of our pupils.

As a Business and Enterprise Specialist School we seek to develop enterprise opportunities for all pupils; these include: mini-enterprise projects, charity fundraising, conservation and stewardship projects and community initiatives. Our school is one of the highest attaining business and enterprise schools in the country.

Our Prospectus and Parent Handbook provide details about every aspect of life at our school. We have a separate Sixth Form Prospectus for those interested in joining our Sixth Form from other institutions. Each year an increasing number choose to join our school at the start of their A Level studies.

Of course, reading literature and navigating through the pages of a web-site is no substitute for coming along to see us in action. We are pleased to show parents and prospective pupils around. Visits can be arranged by contacting the school, these details are on our home page

David Hazeldine
Headteacher