The Birkenhead Park School Prospectus

Prospectus A forward thinking school with a focus on traditional values and modern educational practice

Doing what matters most...

Welcome...

I am very proud to welcome you to The Birkenhead Park School. I hope you find this prospectus both useful and informative in helping you make your choice of school.

The Birkenhead Park School is a forward thinking school with a focus on high academic standards, traditional values and modern educational practices. Our students combine hard work with determination and motivation to achieve enormous success. We thrive on challenging each other to aim high and are very proud of how the young people in our care become successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens. The pastoral support we offer our students is compassionate and tenacious, and our specialist team of staff in our Student Services Centre are especially skilled in supporting our students to be successful.

EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE WIRRAL FOR OVER 100 YEARS Did you know that our pioneering school site was the inspiration for New York’s Central Park? Or that it survived a near-miss with a Spitfire in World War Two? Explore our timeline for the fascinating history of The Birkenhead Park School, from our grammar school roots to our ongoing transformation.

We aim to transform the life-chances of our students, their families and the community that we serve by providing only the very best educational opportunities. We achieve this by offering: • I nspiring teaching in a safe, friendly, and welldisciplined environment • A broad and modern curriculum that is underpinned by a strong focus on the essential skills of Maths, English and Science

• A relentless focus on continuous improvement in all that we do • A personalised package of educational and social development • P rogression opportunities through our sponsor Wirral Academy Trust and other local providers

1847 - BIRKENHEAD PARK OPENS

Designed by Joseph Paxton and the inspiration for Central Park in New York, Birkenhead Park was Britain’s first municipal parkland.

To help students make the transition from primary to secondary our Year 7 team work closely with local primary schools, building relationships with students before they start, and we offer a dedicated Year 7 base and free uniform and transport for all new students.

By believing in our students and helping them aspire to achieve and fulfil their potential, we are committed to ensuring that our students achieve success in all that they do and go on to secure places at prestigious universities, gain apprenticeships and secure rewarding employment.

Our growing international reputation and links with schools in countries such as China, Denmark and Holland is opening up exciting learning opportunities for our students, including exchange visits, and we look forward to developing our international relations for the benefit of our students.

1908 - BIRKENHEAD GIRLS’ SECONDARY SCHOOL

Birkenhead Girls Secondary School opened on Park Road South. This would later switch sides of the road and become Park High School for Girls.

1926 - PARK HIGH GIRLS/BOYS

1939-1945 - WORLD WAR TWO

The outbreak of war saw former students and staff of both Park High and Rock Ferry High enlist in the armed forces. Birkenhead Park saw a Spitfire crash in 1942 near to the current site of the school, which at the time was home to Park High School for Girls.

The pilot had ejected over Liverpool, landing on the roof of the maternity hospital.

Park High School for Girls opened in Park Road South in 1926 with Park High School for Boys established at a site on Park Road North. They would later combine to form one school.

I hope you will enjoy reading through this prospectus.

I would encourage you to come and visit us, meet our students and see for yourself how we transform the lives of the young people of Wirral. The details of our Open Events and latest news from the school are available on our school website.

“The headteacher’s aspirational vision, determination, passion and commitment, along with effective support from governance, senior and middle leaders, have ensured the school has improved.”

OFSTED, June 2015

I look forward to welcoming you and your child to The Birkenhead Park School.

Geraint Parry Head Teacher

1972 - ONE PARK HIGH ON TWO SITES

Park High School for Girls and Park High School for Boys combined to form one co-educational comprehensive school.

2003 - ONE SCHOOL ONE SITE

After a multi million pound expansion of facilities on Park Road South, the school merged into one building, bringing together boys and girls of all ages for the first time on one site.

1988 - SCHOOL BECOMES AN 11-16 COMPREHENSIVE

Birkenhead Sixth Form College opens on Park Road West in Claughton Village and becomes the school’s sixth form provider.

2015 - THE BIRKENHEAD PARK SCHOOL

On April 20th 2015 The Birkenhead Park School opened its doors for the first time, simultaneously extending the proud tradition of first class education on this site.

Led by Headteacher Geraint Parry, The Birkenhead Park School will continue the traditions of its founder schools, standing proudly as the only comprehensive school in Birkenhead.

2010/11 - MERGER

At the end of December 2010 Park High and Rock Ferry High closed prior to their merger into a single academy.

Establishing Birkenhead as a Centre of Academic Excellence For four years the school has been on a journey that has seen standards improve across the board. Now we embark on the next phase of our development, having a local sponsor, Wirral Academy Trust.

The Birkenhead Park School and Wirral Academy Trust are working in partnership to offer students and parents:

Wirral Academy Trust has been established by The Sixth Form College in Birkenhead to raise aspirations, widen horizons and assist in transforming the lives of young people across The Wirral and beyond.

• C lear progression routes to higher education and professional employment

The Sixth Form College has an excellent reputation and is nationally regarded as a provider of high-quality academic education. By joining Wirral Academy Trust and becoming part of the Sixth Form College family, our newly launched school will benefit from the excellence and insight that this local institution can bring.

• A first-rate education based on traditional values • A local partnership based on academic excellence • The highest aspirations and expectations of students

We are delighted to be working together to provide the best possible academic education for young people whilst raising aspirations and establishing Birkenhead as a Centre of Academic Excellence in Wirral

Geraint Parry (Headteacher – The Birkenhead Park School, Kathryn Podmore (Chief Executive, Wirral Academy Trust and Principal, The Sixth Form College, Birkenhead)

“School leaders are challenged well to improve by an astute and diligent local governing body and academy sponsor.”

OFSTED, June 2015

The Trust’s philosophy The Trust’s philosophy is that high academic standards go hand-in-hand with the development of character, good manners and behaviour. The latest theories and ideas in education inform a modern, enjoyable and challenging curriculum, with Maths, English and Science given highest priority. The Trust is committed to working with schools to achieve excellence in these core skills.

At The Birkenhead Park School, we want our children to develop a strong foundation of skills and knowledge that will enable them to excel in all that they do.

We want them to commit to hard work and adopt a resilient attitude to any challenges that will empower them, and open up new and exciting opportunities.

From the day they enter the school we want pupils to aspire to progress to post-16 education and to university. We want each individual to make informed choices about the path that is right for them from a wide range of options.

At a time when schools are having to review their sixth form provision, it is a wonderful enhancement that The Birkenhead Park School now has an excellent specialist sixth form for pupils to progress to.

Doing what matters most...

• A modern curriculum underpinned by high standards and traditional values • A commitment to achieving excellence in the core skills of Maths, English and Science • Developing independence, resilience and purposeful work ethic • A caring and nurturing school where students are fully supported • Equipping students for success at 16 and beyond

“The school’s curriculum is wide and varied and promotes greater enjoyment of learning, successfully capturing students’ interests.”

OFSTED, June 2015

A modern curriculum underpinned by high standards and traditional values Our forward-looking curriculum is designed to meet the needs of each individual student, ensuring an exciting range of learning and teaching strategies.

Motivation and engagement are key to the development of our pupils into well-rounded global citizens and employees of the future. We are proud of the recognition our young people have received for good behaviour and of the positive learning experience delivered by our talented team of staff, complemented by modern ICT facilities.

All students follow an individual Learning Programme in all subjects each half-term. This details the knowledge, skills and understanding expected of them, as well as assessments and weekly homework. We seek to work with parents at every opportunity to improve the lifechances and development of children who attend The Birkenhead Park School.

Key Stage 3

Key Stage 4

Our Key Stage 3 programme (Years 7, 8 and 9) is designed to accelerate learning and progress. The Personalised Learning Programmes follow the National Curriculum in: English, Maths, Science, Modern Foreign Languages, Food Technology, Information Communication Technology, Art, Drama, Geography, History, Music, Physical Education and Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Studies.

Our Key Stage 4 programmes (Years 10 and 11) offer a wide range of core subjects and options.

At the end of Key Stage 3, in Year 9, pupils choose the subjects they wish to study at Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11). Exams, plus the information and guidance we provide, help to inform the option process, so our young people make appropriate, informed and aspirational choices.

Core GCSE subjects are: English Language, English Literature, Maths and Science subjects, with all pupils also taking PE and Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Studies.

Example options may include: GCSEs such as History, Geography, Spanish, ICT, Art, Hospitality and Catering, Business Studies and Humanities; and BTEC qualifications such as Drama, Music, Sport and Small Animal Care.

Specially trained teams of staff support Gifted and Talented students, as well as those who need additional help with literacy and numeracy, throughout Key Stages 3 and 4.

A commitment to achieving excellence in the core skills of Maths, English and Science All Birkenhead Park School pupils are set a Learning Programme that puts and keeps them on a trajectory of development to achieve a minimum of five A-C grades including Maths, English and Science by age 16 and a full Level 3 qualification by age 18. This is in line with all Wirral Academy Trust member schools and colleges.

Priority is given to a core programme of Maths, English and Science, supported through the use of the best digital platforms such as ‘FROG’, our Virtual Learning Environment, and technology.

“Teachers establish strong working relationships with students.”

OFSTED, June 2015

We believe every child can achieve great things – all they need is the right teaching support.

Developing independence, resilience and a purposeful work ethic At The Birkenhead Park School, we aim to raise aspirations and transform lives. We do this by: • Providing clear regular target-setting, assessment and reporting systems that underpin all aspects of learning, so all students understand the progress they are making and how they can improve further • Nurturing a lasting passion and curiosity for learning • Encouraging engagement with families and the local community to improve learning outcomes for students

A caring and nurturing school where students are fully supported Starting secondary school is an important and exciting time in any child’s life.

Although students may, understandably, have a few nerves about the move from primary school to secondary, we work hard to ensure they can take it in their stride.

We have created a Year 7 Base which is a school within a school, that helps to ease the transition period for Year 7

students and to ensure optimum levels of performance and learning.

Led by their Head of Year and Assistant Head of Year, a team of experienced Form Tutors nurture an open, approachable and supportive learning environment at the Year 7 Base. Year 7 students also have their own secure play area and a separate timetable and lunchtime to the rest of the school. This stable, calm and focused approach gives students every opportunity to advance their knowledge and to grow in confidence.

“Students learn in a calm and harmonious environment.”

OFSTED, June 2015

Year 7 base with free uniform and transport for all new students

Continued Support Our students are at the heart of everything we do and support continues after Year 7 through our Student Services Centre.

The centre is home to our Attendance Team, Enrichment Co-coordinator, Heads of Year and Assistant Heads of Year for Years 8-11, together with a dedicated receptionist.

This highly trained team is experienced in working with young people of all ages. They provide our pupils with the tools and support that they need to be the very best they can be, regardless of their starting point upon joining the school.

Our close working relationships with organisations such as Education Welfare, School Health Services and the Special Educational Needs Service serve to ensure every student achieves. ‘FROG’, our Virtual Learning Environment, offers pastoral support, as well as supporting homework and encouraging academic progress. It provides students, parents, carers and the local community with access to extensive information, advice and guidance.

Equipping students for success at 16 and beyond As a school, we believe passionately in all-round education and the importance of developing students’ confidence, independent learning skills and interests, to help raise their aspirations and help them become successful, happy and fulfilled young citizens.

Progression to further education is a natural and informed choice for many of our pupils when the time comes to leave us.

Through the Wirral Academy Trust, we have strengthened our bond with The Wirral’s number one sixth-form provider, The Sixth Form College in Birkenhead. Our students now have a seamless pathway onto high quality sixth form education from which they can progress onto

prestigious universities both locally and across the UK or secure higher level apprenticeships and employment with leading employers.

We also have strong connections with other local providers, including Wirral Metropolitan College, giving our students an exceptionally wide range of excellent post-16 courses and progression pathways to aim for.

Through our range of work-experience and career related activities, students are in the best position to make fully informed decisions regarding the full range of opportunities available to them both locally and further afield.

Whatever your child’s aspirations, we will work with them to ensure that they fulfil their true potential and are in the strongest position to achieve these when they leave the school at 16.

“Students receive effective support to develop high aspirations for their future lives.”

OFSTED, June 2015

Learning Outside the Classroom During their time with us, we expect our pupils to take part in our diverse Enrichment Programme with at least one activity a week. Not only does this extend the learning experience of our students beyond the classroom, it also expands their CVs in readiness for the next stage of the learning journey.

We offer free music lessons to all pupils and some unique and exciting opportunities in performing arts, as well as DJ workshops and art clubs.

“The advice, information and careers guidance students are given ensures that the choices they make in their options for GCSE courses, and for courses beyond Year 11, are based on a good understanding of their needs.”

OFSTED, June 2015

There are opportunities to join the choir or school band, visit outdoor education centres and take part in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, or exciting projects such as Tall Ships or Adventure Sailing.

Clubs and sporting activities include: Science; Technology; Textiles; Fit 4

Reading; Language Leaders Course; History; Video Editing; Computer Building; Coursework Catch-up Sessions; Football; Basketball; Horse Riding; Dance; Golf; Climbing; Volleyball; Fitness and many more.

Further afield, our links with schools in China, Denmark and Germany help us to broaden horizons and place The Birkenhead Park School on the global map.

We have recently been granted International Foundation Status by the British Council in recognition of our growing international reputation. As a result of our links internationally, our students now have the opportunity to meet students from across the globe and participate in student exchange programmes.

The Birkenhead Park School –

Raising Aspirations and Transforming Lives

Doing what matters most...

A modern curriculum underpinned by high standards and traditional values A commitment to achieving excellence in the core skills of Maths, English and Science Developing independence, resilience and purposeful work ethic A caring and nurturing school where students are fully supported Equipping students for success at 16 and beyond

Working in partnership with the Wirral Academy Trust

The Birkenhead Park School, Park Road South, Birkenhead, Wirral CH43 4UY

Tel: 0151 652 1574 | Email: offices@birkenheadparkschool.com

www.birkenheadparkschool.com