Park High School, Birkenhead
Encyclopedia
Park High School is a co-educational secondary school in Birkenhead
on the Wirral Peninsula
in England
. The school is located near Birkenhead Park
. Previously existing across two sites, following the amalgamation of two separate schools, it consists of an Upper School and a Lower School (although only one site is currently used), and is a specialist Sports College
administered by the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
.
Park High has substantial sports facilities; such as a new climbing wall
in the gym, a fitness suite, a large sports hall and a dance studio along with basketball courts and has recently set up basketball nets in the schoolyard, among other things.
on their last inspection. As well as this, it has attained a significant level of good GCSE results, ranking within England's top 10%.
. Following the establishment of Birkenhead Sixth Form College
in 1988, the upper age of students is now 16.
In June 2001, work began to bring the school onto one site. An extensive building programme involved demolishing the boys gym, the caretakers house, the old canteen and fourteen mobile classrooms. This allowed for the construction of a new circular canteen, large sports hall and dance studio, as well as building extensions to older parts of the main building. When the new school year began in September 2003, Park High School was opened on one site for the first time.
Birkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
on the Wirral Peninsula
Wirral Peninsula
Wirral or the Wirral is a peninsula in North West England. It is bounded by three bodies of water: to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey and to the north by the Irish Sea. Both terms "Wirral" and "the Wirral" are used locally , although the...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The school is located near Birkenhead Park
Birkenhead Park
Birkenhead Park is a public park in the centre of Birkenhead, on the Wirral Peninsula, England. It was designed by Joseph Paxton and opened on 5 April 1847...
. Previously existing across two sites, following the amalgamation of two separate schools, it consists of an Upper School and a Lower School (although only one site is currently used), and is a specialist Sports College
Sports College
Sports Colleges were introduced in 1997 as part of the Specialist Schools Programme in the United Kingdom. The system enables secondary schools to specialise in certain fields, in this case, PE, sports and dance. Schools that successfully apply to the Specialist Schools Trust and become Sports...
administered by the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
Metropolitan Borough of Wirral
The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside, in North West England. It has a population of 311,200, and encompasses of the northern part of the Wirral Peninsula. Major settlements include Birkenhead, Wallasey, Bebington, Heswall, Hoylake and West Kirby. The city of...
.
Appearance
The school consists of four floors with up to thirty rooms on the first three floors, with the top floor only having three rooms. The school also has a glass walled canteen and a sports hall which its height extending three floor. The school is built on a hill with the first floor extending underground. The theatre on the third floor has Tudor style decoration around its curtains. Some of the older areas have been sealed off for health and safety reasons.Park High has substantial sports facilities; such as a new climbing wall
Climbing wall
A climbing wall is an artificially constructed wall with grips for hands and feet, usually used for indoor climbing, but sometimes located outdoors as well. Some are brick or wooden constructions, but on most modern walls, the material most often used is a thick multiplex board with holes drilled...
in the gym, a fitness suite, a large sports hall and a dance studio along with basketball courts and has recently set up basketball nets in the schoolyard, among other things.
Current teaching
Currently at Park High School, there are roughly over 70 teachers. Within those teachers there are 50 form tutors, 3 reception, 1 librarian, 5 deputy headteachers and 1 secretary. The other teachers are Learning Mentors and Connexions.Achievements
Since being granted specialist Sports College status in 2001, Park High received positive comments from OfstedOfsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
on their last inspection. As well as this, it has attained a significant level of good GCSE results, ranking within England's top 10%.
History
Park High School for Girls opened in Park Road South in 1926 and Park High School for Boys was established in 1925 at a site on Park Road North (which is now the Joseph Paxton Building). Both schools were amalgamated in 1972, with Park High School becoming an 11-18 co-educational comprehensive schoolComprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
. Following the establishment of Birkenhead Sixth Form College
Birkenhead Sixth Form College
Birkenhead Sixth Form College is a Sixth form college located in the Claughton area of Birkenhead, in Merseyside, England.The college was established in 1988, and mostly accepts students graduating from secondary schools in Birkenhead, as well as from the larger Wirral area. Courses offered by the...
in 1988, the upper age of students is now 16.
In June 2001, work began to bring the school onto one site. An extensive building programme involved demolishing the boys gym, the caretakers house, the old canteen and fourteen mobile classrooms. This allowed for the construction of a new circular canteen, large sports hall and dance studio, as well as building extensions to older parts of the main building. When the new school year began in September 2003, Park High School was opened on one site for the first time.
Notable alumni
- Sir Leslie FroggattLeslie FroggattSir Leslie Trevor Froggatt was a British-born Australian businessman, who was chairman and CEO of Shell Australia from 1969 to 1980.-Early life:...
, Chairman of Shell AustraliaShell AustraliaIn Australia, Royal Dutch Shell conducts a large range of activities. These include exploration for, and the production and commercialization of, oil and natural gas, the operation of two refineries, 19 terminals and 33 depots for the manufacture and distribution of oil products; and the marketing...
. - Hilda Ellis Davidson, academic and antiquarian
- 1951-1962 approx, Peter Johnson %28businessman%29, food entrepreneur, former owner Everton FC owner Tranmere Rovers FC. His Park Group is named after the school.
- 1989-1994 Ian Kenyon, Broadcaster, BBC Radio Merseyside
- 1963-1970 Les Wheatley, later finance director of Newcastle United F.C.Newcastle United F.C.Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
and Liverpool F.C.Liverpool F.C.Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... - 1963-1970 Martin Ince science journalist, author, editor of the QS World University RankingsQS World University RankingsThe QS World University Rankings is a ranking of the world’s top 500 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds using a method that has published annually since 2004....