West Kirby Grammar School

Girl's grammar school with mixed sixth-form in West Kirby, Wirral, England

53°22′41″N 3°11′06″W / 53.378°N 3.185°W / 53.378; -3.185InformationTypeGrammar school;
AcademyMottoAd metam contendo
'Strive towards the goal'Established1913Department for Education URN137243 TablesOfstedReportsChair of GovernorsA WallerHead teacherS ClarkeGenderFemale (11-16); Mixed Sixth Form(16-18)Age11 to 18Enrolment1263HousesHudson, Stewart, Gonner, Furniss, Wallis, PatonWebsitehttp://www.wkgs.org/

West Kirby Grammar School (abbreviated to WKGS) is a non-denominational selective state grammar school, founded in 1913, with academy status in West Kirby on the Wirral Peninsula, England. The school admits girls from age 11 to 18, with boys admitted for the sixth form only since 2002.

The school is one of The Sunday Times top one hundred state schools.

History

In 1912 it was open for girls and boys but in 1913 was made an all girls grammar school. Founded in 1913, the school celebrated its 95th anniversary in 2008 with a whole school photograph. The school celebrated its 100th birthday in 2013 with a weekend of events including another whole school photograph and a concert at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. The 'Centenary Room', funded by the Old Girls' Association, was also opened next to the main hall of the school.

The school was given a grant to renovate facilities on site, which was used to build two new teaching blocks, with work due to be completed in 2009. The technology block was completed in September 2007, and the English/Humanities block in October 2008.

The school has several international links, successfully running a variety of trips to Fougeres, France; Cologne and Aachen, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; Yaroslavl, Russia and an exchange programme with a school in Gladenbach, Germany. Additionally the school often raises funds for its "Make a Difference" campaign, raising money for Inner Mongolian schools, before having a trip for selected students in the summer holidays to Hong Kong, mainland China and to Inner Mongolia to see how the money is being put to use. Furthermore, in 2006 the school won the Wirral International School Award.

The school has 6 houses; Hudson (White), Stewart (Yellow), Gonner (Blue), Furniss (Purple), Wallis (Red) and Paton (Green). These all compete throughout the year at various house events ranging from music and a general knowledge quiz to team and individual sports.

Two pupils from the school have taken part in the international schools Arctic expedition and the international young scientists space camp; both these pupils who attended sixth form at the school were representing the UK. The school's Under 13 football team has also achieved national success after competing in the final of the tournament at Wembley stadium.

Curriculum

Pupils at the school study a standard UK curriculum with GCSE and A-Level examinations taken at ages 16 and 18.

Sports studied as standard in Physical Education lessons include Hockey, Netball, Tennis, Gymnastics and Athletics.

Students from West Kirby Grammar School had the chance to quiz a senior Government minister when they held their own question time session.

Links with other schools

There is a large Combined Cadet Force contingent shared with Calday Grange Grammar School, which students from Year 9 upwards can join. There is a German exchange programme and there are also links with schools in Germany, Finland, Hungary and Poland through the European Union's Comenius programme.

Notable former pupils

Jill Crawshaw, travel writer
Sally Grindley, children's author; her 2004 book Spilled Water won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
Tracy de Groose (née Darwen), chief executive from 2018 to 2020 of Newsworks (the newspaper industry advertising body), from 2014 to 2018 of Dentsu Aegis Network and its predecessor Carat UK from 2010 to 2014, Brand Director from 1996 to 1998 of Stella Artois (owned by Whitbread) (1979–86)
Shirley Hughes, children's author
Glenda Jackson, actress and former Labour MP from 1992 to 2015 for Hampstead and Highgate; she left school with no discernible qualifications to work in the local Boots, where the shop manager spotted her talent, and largely arranged a scholarship from Cheshire County Council for her to attend RADA
Julia Kneale, former girlfriend of Andy McCluskey, who formed The Id
Jan Ravens, from Dead Ringers, noted for her impersonations of Ruth Archer (ohh nohhh) from The Archers, and Kirsty Wark from Newsnight
Ruth McCartney, step-sister of Paul McCartney (her 34-year-old mother married his 62-year-old father in November 1964, when she was four)
Sheila McClennon, Radio 4 presenter on Woman's Hour and You and Yours

Former teachers

Sophia Churney, former Psychology teacher, was part of Ooberman; her brother was musician Russell Churney
Leonard Milne, former head of Music; he trained at the Northern School of Music, was organist of All Saints Church, Speke, and (briefly) gave Paul McCartney weekly piano lessons in 1958 at his home at 237 Mather Avenue in Allerton