Student Leadership

We believe it’s essential for all of our students to develop their leadership skills, to be better prepared for their working lives and to give them the resolve, commitment and resilience that sets apart a good leader from a great one.

Motivation is a key factor in leadership and we believe that all students should be encouraged to develop their passions, skills and talents in all areas, so that they can go on to inspire others. In order to do this, we encourage our students to take on roles in a number of different areas that not only promote leadership qualities but also their confidence, ability and knowledge. Thank you to everyone who took on leadership roles during 2020/21.

Head Student & Prefect Team 2020/21

Reflections From Our Head Students

Archie Parker-Goff, Head Student

Over the last nine months, Birkenhead School, whilst overcoming the many Covid challenges, has produced an academic year full of highlights and memories. Immediately, whilst returning to school in September, it was evident that this was not going to be a normal collection of terms. The School was filled with hand sanitising stations and ‘one way’ signs were everywhere. Lesson locations were changed to reduce ‘year group bubble’ mixing and black and yellow tape ensured students followed the government guidance. However, despite all these measures, it was great to be back.

Towards the end of the Michaelmas Term, there was the Christmas Tree initiative.

The School Chaplain, Father Mark, challenged all forms across Seniors to decorate their own form Christmas tree and compete to win tree of the year group. With this in mind, our form set to task. After several intense ‘planning’ meetings, our tree was assembled. Art was never my strong point, but even I contributed to the task, buying a rubber Christmas toy and impaling it on top of the tree as a de facto Christmas star. By some miscarriage of justice, another form was elected to have won; writing this in May, I’m still not over it… A couple of weeks later, on the final day of term, the trees – along with their lavish decorations – were delivered to less fortunate families across the local area of Birkenhead. This was an excellent initiative run by the school, which was both fun to take part in, but also a great way of having a positive impact on the local community. For me, it is certainly one of the highlights of the year.

As Christmas passed and the new year beckoned, it was announced to the UK that there would be another Lockdown and that schools would not be returning in early January. In all honesty, this was a crushing blow as, armed with a laptop, many mugs of tea and even more digestives, we embarked on a second load of Remote Learning! Although the dayto-day life of Lockdown Learning was a little monotonous, the School’s Remote Learning Provision was excellent and ensured we did not fall behind in our studies. Truth be told: staring at a desk in your bedroom all day is no substitute for in person school, and this was laid bare for all to see as the euphoria of the returning students in early March was palpable.

The first lunch time back provided the Sixth Form with the return of its competitive lunch time football. With passion akin to the Merseyside Derby and drama like that of the Champions League Final, the two teams battled hard. I’m delighted to report there were no (serious) injuries sustained by any of the players, though there were certainly some questionable displays of ‘talent’ on show for us all.

After a restful Easter break, the School returned for the Summer Term; my favourite of the three because of the cricket and (supposedly) better weather. The cricket pitch had been prepared, the sun was shining (on some days), and there was a positive and happy atmosphere around campus. Unfortunately, Covid had decimated inter-school sport fixtures in the Michaelmas and Lent Term, but thankfully, by the Summer, fixtures were booked in and competitions were organised. In my final few weeks at Birkenhead School, I was really able to appreciate just how lucky we all are to attend a school with such a beautiful campus and close-knit community feel, in which teachers know all pupils and pupils know all teachers. In a year dominated by gloomy headlines and new vocabulary such as lockdowns and Zoom, it is important to remember how fortunate we all are to call ourselves Birkonians. Archie leaves the School to study Economics at the University of Bath from September.

Lizzy Hyatt – Head Student

Where has the time gone? I joined Birkenhead School as part of the first cohort of girls in the summer term of Reception in 2008, and I am off to the University of Durham to study General Engineering in September.

School has really provided me with the foundation for my interest in STEM subjects. From the weekly science clubs I attended in Overdale to a week at the Johnson Space Centre in Texas in 2017, the latter being a highlight of my school career, designing rockets and Martian habitats, and even meeting an astronaut. This amazing opportunity not only inspired me, but made me realise that doing something in this field was a very real possibility, and hence why I am hoping to study engineering. The amazing support from the Futures Team has helped to guide me through my university application process and I am very grateful for this.

I have many fond memories from form assemblies in Prep, leading up to our Year 6 performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat. Sport is such a big part of School life for so many of us. With after school training, weekend matches and sports tours, I have enjoyed wonderful times when competing with my friends alongside me and my love of sport is something I will continue through university.

This has been a year like no other, however the first lockdown of 2020 put in place an ethos of successful remote learning that rivalled the teaching we received in School. Although this was a period that made it hard to stay motivated, I think it has certainly put everyone in a better position, able to understand their own learning needs more and this is a skill that will be so important in the future.

Leading up to Christmas 2020, every form group was given a Christmas tree to decorate. This brought real excitement and a competitive edge to Christmas tree decorating! The school site was a festive scene but more importantly, both the Christmas trees and their decorations were transported by the Estates Team to families in Birkenhead who otherwise would have done without. This, coupled with the food bank collection organised by Father Mark was a very fitting end to what had been a tough year for all.

This past year, Archie and I were given the honour of being Heads of School. Despite the challenging circumstances, the School has still pushed forwards with ways to develop and enhance what is already on offer, and I have really enjoyed being a part of some of these decisions. The resilience of the School, students, and teachers in what has been a taxing year has been so important and will help us move forward with a positive outlook.

This school year has certainly been different, and nothing like I would have expected for my last year in school. Nevertheless, from my time at Birkenhead, I have made friendships that will stay with me for life and the opportunities and life skills I have gained will be invaluable in the future. Lizzy leaves the School to study General Engineering at the University of Durham from September.

I joined Birkenhead School in Year 6 at the age of 10. Having spent almost half of my life at the School it has been a huge part of my education and has shaped my development greatly. Whilst at the school I have enjoyed myself fully, and I have been allowed and encouraged to pursue my interests whether in Music, Sport, or Academics. These opportunities have allowed me to form amazing memories of my time here at the school.

Some of my most vivid memories include the music tour to Barcelona where, whilst battling the hot weather, we were able to perform in some beautiful cathedrals. I’ll also remember playing sport at the School, from cross country running and football in Year 6 to representing the 1st XI and 1st XV in cricket and rugby respectively.

David Turner, Deputy Head Student

I’ve also been able to represent the School in the UKMT National Team Maths Challenge Final, a more unique way through which I’ve been able to develop my competitive behaviour and academic skills.

The Chapel Choir has been a constant part of my time at school. I joined the Choir shortly after I joined the school in Year 6. With the Choir I have experienced some of my most memorable experiences and it have developed deep friendships with others who sing. It has really been a highlight of my time at the school.

Looking back at the most recent year it is hard to not think about all the things that I’ve missed out on as a result of the pandemic. From a cricket tour to the Caribbean, to performing evensongs in the Chapel, as well as playing 1st XV matches for the Rugby team as an Upper Sixth Former and representing the School at open days, there are many events which could have made the last year even better.

But, despite the circumstances there have still been many notable occasions. The Nicholls Lecture series that the Sixth Form receives was disrupted but we were still given lectures online by John Barnes on race and prejudice and Admiral Sir Philip Jones, an Old Birkonian, on his career in the Royal Navy. It should also be mentioned that the remote learning that the school provided was very comprehensive. Under challenging conditions, we were able to keep up with the courses and has put me in a great position to study Economics and Management at Oxford next year. Finally, this year I’ve had the opportunity to take on the role of Javert in the musical Les Misérables. Through drama and music at the school I have gained a lot of confidence and it’s another avenue that with which the school has allowed me and others to develop.

As I leave the School, my final thoughts are ones of gratitude. I would like to thank all of my teachers, particularly Mr Robinson, Director of Music, for allowing me to enjoy music to the greatest extent. I would also like to thank my friends who played the biggest role in me enjoying my time at the School and Ms Smeaton for her caring guidance in the Sixth Form as well as for putting up with me whilst being my form tutor this year. Although I’m sad to be leaving, Birkenhead has given me a great platform from which to go out into the world and I think it is true to say that I would be a different person if it wasn’t for my time here. David leaves School to study Economics and Management at University of Oxford from September.

Amelia Sowerby, Deputy Head Student

My time as Deputy Head may not have been conventional, but it certainly has not been any less full of fond memories and fun. The inter-form Christmas tree decoration contest was one of my highlights. It really made us pull together as a team to ensure that our tree was full of the best decorations for Mrs Pankhurst and Ed to judge. This required a form trip to ‘Inspirations Wholesale’ to get the decorations, where our budgeting skills were definitely put to the test, and some hard negotiations in order to get the best-looking tree once they arrived on campus. Even though we sadly did not win the competition, it is a memory of my Upper Sixth I shall never forget.

Hello-Yellow day is also a memory that I will cherish. We all wore yellow in support of the teenage mental health charity ‘YoungMinds’, and Ms Smeaton and Ms Keegan beautifully decorated the Sixth Form Centre for us all. There was also a bake-sale, and the cookies I made for it sold out by the end of break! It was a great day as we were all able to have fun and dress up in yellow ribbons, socks and nail varnish, whilst supporting such an amazing and important charity for people of our age group, which has been especially busy during the current pandemic and all the struggles it has brought.

Beyond Upper Sixth, my favourite memory has to be of my trip to Washington D.C. and New York. Being able to see two such historical and global cities in just ten days was a whirlwind like no other. The best part however has to be the game of hide and seek we played in the National Museum of Natural History in D.C., taking inspiration from the ‘Night at the Museum’ movies. Not only did we have lots of fun as a group, but it also allowed me to learn more about early American History, a subject I didn’t know much about, which I thoroughly enjoyed learning about here, and which I hope will help me in my history degree next year.

I also loved helping out at Years 3 and 4 Drama club in my Lower Sixth year, as it helped me enhance my leadership and communication skills, as well as giving me a lot of joy in seeing younger children enjoying drama as I always have done.

Although this year has been thwarted by isolations and lockdowns, it really has still been one to remember, as have all my school years here at Birkenhead. I have made friends here that I will have for life, and learnt things about myself and the world that are invaluable for me and my future at university and beyond. Birkenhead taught me how to believe in myself and my potential, and how to work for what I want; for this I am eternally grateful. For only moving here in Year 10, due to the incredible school community, I feel as though I have always been here, and I will miss it very much next year. Amelia leaves School to study History at University College London from September.