I am delighted to welcome you to Birkdale High School's web site. It provides an introduction to our school and gives you access to information about policies and daily life.

Birkdale High School is proud of its ethos and reputation within the community. This is a school which continues the pursuit of excellence and combines innovative teaching methods and contemporary educational philosophy with traditional expectations. We are the only all boys’ 11-16 school within the Sefton Education Authority. We have seven forms of entry and we admit 186 boys at the age of eleven. There are currently 905 boys on roll and we are oversubscribed.

The school is fortunate in having a well qualified and dedicated staff whose aim is to equip young people with the education and skills they need.  We provide an all round education, considering it important to develop the young person intellectually, morally, physically, socially and emotionally. We believe in academic excellence and personal fulfilment in a disciplined environment, based on values of mutual respect.

Birkdale High offers opportunity for all and its outstanding range of extra-curricular activities complements the work in the classroom to develop young adults with a sense of pride in the school, themselves and the community. OfSTED Inspected Birkdale in 2007 and described us as a ‘ Good School with Several Outstanding Features’.

Gary Loveridge
Headteacher

Mission Statement

Birkdale High School, the only all boys 11-16 comprehensive school in Sefton, aims to be a centre of excellence, demanding of its pupils the highest possible standards in all they undertake while supporting them in the fulfilment of their spiritual, personal, academic and social potential. This fundamental principle is enshrined in the school motto ‘Nihil Nisi Bonum’ which can be translated as ‘Only the best will do’. The school recognises and welcomes the contribution of everyone and seeks to enable each individual to achieve his full potential and be able to take his place effectively in a rapidly changing world.

1, Aim:	To develop the entitlement curriculum effectively to all pupils.
To be achieved through:	Resourcing National Curriculum subjects (core and foundation), cross-curricular themes, skills, dimensions and R.E., following careful planning at all levels to identify needs, set manageable targets and monitor and evaluate progress
2, Aim:	To ensure that all pupils receive learning opportunities appropriate to their abilities.
To be achieved through:	Cross-phase liaison; objective testing; differentiation of learning programmes and pupil groupings; support for pupils with specific learning difficulties.
3, Aim:	To encourage pupils to take responsibility for their own learning and to develop in them positive attitudes to study, together with the skills necessary for collaborative working and independent study.
To be achieved through:	Experiential as well as didactic methods in an atmosphere of work in school; regular and appropriate homework and assignments; tests and examinations; encouraging pupils to review their progress leading to the setting of appropriate targets; developing a positive programme of learning skills; awarding commendation points and displaying pupils’ work.
4, Aim:	To promote the spiritual and moral development of pupils within a caring, well- disciplined and happy atmosphere.
To be achieved through:	Early establishment of acceptable standards of behaviour; counselling at tutor group and year level; P.S.H.C.E (Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship Education); SMSC systems (spiritual, moral, social and cultural) of rewards and punishment.
5, Aim:	To provide for pupils (and staff) an attractive, appropriate and stimulating environment.
To be achieved through:	A continuing programme of grounds development, grounds maintenance; annual rolling programme of re-furnishing and re-decorating; provision of pictures and boards to encourage the display of pupils’ work.
6, Aim:	To develop interests and skills, which will continue to give life-long personal satisfaction in the use of leisure
To be achieved through:	Clubs and societies; sport and other outdoor activities; holidays and visits; school library.
7, Aim:	To encourage the understanding by parents of what the school is trying to do so that as many parents as possible are supportive of the school.
To be achieved through:	Parents’ Visits and Consultation Evenings; Awards’ Night, Annual Governors’ Report, Parents’ Association; letters to parents; Calendar; individual meetings and discussions.
8, Aim:	To encourage in pupils a sense of pride in being part of the school community and community outside school.
To be achieved through:	Tutor Group; Year group; school events and visits; school uniform; publicising of individual and group successes; the reputation of the school in the community; work experience; community projects; fund raising for local and national charities and appeals.