Birkenhead School

Birkenhead School's story begins with the Proprietary School established in 1860. It moved to Shrewsbury Road in 1871, opened its Prep School in 1889 and became independent after the Direct Grant ended in 1976. Girls joined the Sixth Form in 2000 and every year group became co-educational in 2008, creating the all-through community that exists today.

Academic, pastoral and co-curricular work form three connected strands. Alongside core subjects, Beyond the Curriculum, Enrich & Explore and Future Skills allow interests to widen as pupils move through the school. The Sixth Form remains part of that same community, with GCSE and A-level routes leading into a distinct post-16 stage rather than a separate institution.

Daily life brings learning into public, practical and creative settings. Etiquette, public speaking, Leadership Pathways and mentoring sit beside sport, music, drama, trips and clubs including electronics and art. Chapel, choir tours, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, careers interviews, productions, science clubs and the School Council add further ways for pupils to build confidence, responsibility and curiosity.

Applications go directly to the school and are organised around Early Years, Prep, Senior and Sixth Form entry. For senior entry, Year 5 pupils are invited to an Assessment Day in June and Year 6 pupils to one in January; families register interest with the senior admissions team. This staged route suits a school with several natural entry points, rather than one whose admissions process is built solely around Year 7.