Wirral Grammar School for Girls Sixth Form Prospectus
Welcoming
Wirral Grammar School for Girls has been inspiring and educating girls since 1931. The focus is very much on the individual, enabling every girl to fulfil her potential, both educationally and socially. We believe that our Sixth Form students are among the most successful in the North West. With examination results at the top of league tables, small teaching groups and modern facilities, we support students as they adjust to the fast moving pace of their final two years at school. The Sixth Form is a transitional period for all pupils, a time when they acquire more independence, responsibility and confidence, and prepare for their futures. At Wirral Grammar School for Girls, each pupil is actively encouraged and nurtured. Choosing the Sixth Form that is right for you is one of the most important decisions you will make, as it will affect both your career path and future. We expect that all of our girls will move on to higher education, at top universities, reading for appropriate degrees or high level vocational training. Almost all of our girls take up places at their first choice universities. At Wirral Grammar School for Girls, we make sure that all our young people gain the qualifications and self assurance to make an impact in the world whatever path they choose to follow. An experienced and committed team of teachers provide first class teaching, support, careers advice and information to help and guide each pupil. With expertise in specialist subjects, university application procedures and a network of contacts at universities across the UK and beyond, teachers offer individual guidance and support throughout the Sixth Form. Wirral Grammar School for Girls is a selective grammar school for girls aged between 11 and 18. For current entry requirements to our Sixth Form please refer to the school website. We hold an induction week in July for girls entering our Sixth Form and this aims to give them a flavour of the subjects they hope to study and see what life is really like in the Sixth Form at Wirral Grammar School for Girls. This Sixth Form Prospectus shows what we seek to achieve through hard work, exceptional facilities, personal responsibility and enjoyment. We hope that you will want to share in our success and become part of our Sixth Form community. Please do come and visit us and sample the energy that enables and empowers our girls.
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Aspiring
The Sixth Form is a vibrant and intellectually challenging community. Over 26 academic A levels are available, as well as a strong core programme of general studies, physical education, the extended project and community work.
Welcoming & Aspiring
Our school aims to provide the fullest range of quality academic experiences within an inclusive, supportive environment. Our Sixth Form has an ethos of friendly competition and responsibility. Every girl is unique and we believe that it is a privilege to be able to contribute to their development so that they leave school confident in themselves, with excellent qualifications and with the ability to achieve all their goals. Form Tutors provide individual advice about the range of possibilities available for the girls. Our own expert in careers advice and university application supports our girls as they make choices about how to make the next important steps in their lives. Throughout the year we have a range of speakers from top universities, a range of professions and other post eighteen options. Every two years we run an inclusive careers convention when over sixty outside providers offer expert advice to our girls. There is a cycle of mock interviews arranged for all Year Thirteen students, both subject specific and skills based, to help them develop interview techniques. We have an excellent record of placing girls at the top universities and in employment. Each year our students gain admission to Oxford, Cambridge and Russell Group universities and, to this end, there is a carefully planned appropriate programme to support this. Our girls are encouraged to arrange appropriate work experiences that will prepare them for life after the Sixth Form. Many arrange placements with professionals and companies which will help them in their future educational and career choices. Many of our students attend classes run by visiting university lecturers and receive tutorials from experts in their A level choices.
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Understanding
At Wirral Grammar School for Girls, we pride ourselves on the purposeful, warm and friendly atmosphere of the Sixth Form. Our ethos is that each individual pupil should feel confident and empowered to succeed. We offer a level of care and support that allows every girl to be successful in her chosen aims and ambitions. In the Sixth Form, girls develop emotionally and intellectually. At Wirral Grammar School for Girls, we recognise that our role is not only to enable them to achieve the very highest examination results that they can but also to ensure we support them in navigating their way through this development successfully. Many girls also face additional challenges, ranging from making choices about careers or managing relationships, to issues concerning health or self esteem. At all times, girls in our Sixth Form receive caring, friendly and informed advice and support. Form tutors are highly trained and experienced in supporting members of their forms; they have daily contact with their pupils and are further supported by the Assistant Headteacher (Head of Sixth Form) and two Assistant Heads of Year. These teams meet regularly to discuss individual pupils, informing and involving parents at every stage. Pupils are further supported by a school nurse and a youth worker, who run weekly advice sessions as well as seeing pupils individually. We also have an in-school counselling service and a learning mentor, who pupils can access if necessary. We also run a programme aimed at helping pupils affected by bereavement and loss. Our Sixth Form pupils lead the rest of the school as role models and it is therefore no surprise that the students themselves form the heart of the team that build a strong supportive base for everyone in the school community. Whether girls entering the Sixth Form are moving up from our own Year Eleven, or joining us from outside, they are all guaranteed a warm welcome in our school. The Sixth Form girls are given many responsibilities. They represent the school at public events; they show visitors our facilities and provide guided tours on open days and former pupil reunions. We really believe that the high level of support and care in our school is what makes such a successful, happy and high achieving Sixth Form. Overall, we pride ourselves on caring for the pupils as individuals. Pupils are known by the staff and feel safe and cared for. From the moment that they are greeted at the pupil entrance, by a member of the Leadership Team and the Headteacher, to the moment they go home, they are treated as young adults who are being equipped with the skills to engage with the wider community.
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Empowering
Understanding & Empoweing
Sixth Form girls benefit from excellent facilities. We have successfully completed an ÂŁ11 million programme to redevelop our site and have access to the most up-to-date resources. We use these to prepare our sixth formers for life in the twenty-first century. Our main school buildings date from 1931 when the school was first opened. However, today all classrooms have interactive whiteboard technology and all curriculum areas have dedicated computer facilities. Our Library and Art department, as well as two further computer suites, are fully equipped with the latest Apple computers. There are also four further suites offering Windows based systems. Sixth Form students studying in the Science department have access to nine modern fully equipped laboratories in addition to two dedicated Sixth Form practice laboratories. In Physical Education, the girls benefit from a large sports hall, dance studio, fitness suite containing the most modern keep fit equipment and traditional gymnasium as well as outdoor grass and hard surface games areas. We have a modern multi use studio theatre that is utilised for a variety of lessons in drama and performing arts as well as public performances. Our Music department is housed in a modern suite of rooms which include teaching, composition and practice areas. Our Design and Technology rooms have the latest computer aided design and manufacturing equipment as well as modern food and textile production facilities. Members of our Sixth Form have dedicated study rooms and ICT facilities to use for private study as well as a large common room with kitchen facilities. Our commitment to invest in our facilities remains ongoing. We are currently in the planning phase for the development of a modern astro-turf hockey facility.
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Enriching
At Wirral Grammar School for Girls we have more than just an outstanding academic Sixth Form; lessons are balanced by a wide choice of pursuits outside the classroom. Girls are encouraged to try something they have never tried before, exploring hidden talents and the value of teamwork along the way. There really are so many opportunities here. Wirral Grammar girls have a huge range of talents and we cultivate their eagerness to try new things. Music is a real strength in the school; all sixth formers are encouraged to take up instrumental music tuition from a range of visiting music tutors. Many of these girls perform in our ensembles, orchestras, bands and choirs covering a wide spectrum of musical tastes including jazz, classical, swing, multi-cultural and modern song writing. The Sixth Form make a valuable contribution to a number of high quality performances involving drama, music and dance. Some of these will be joint productions with Wirral Grammar School for Boys.
Our senior girls have the opportunity to be trained in Reading Recovery to allow them to support early literacy at local primary schools. Girls also get the opportunity to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme and the National Bar Mock Trial competition during which our girls get to compete as barristers at Crown Court against other schools. As well as the usual field trips in Biology and Geography, our Sixth Form take part in national award programmes across many subject areas. Politics students make frequent trips to London to hear important politicians speak. They also enjoy our annual trip to the Palace of Westminster. Former Head Girl, Alison McGovern, was elected to Parliament in 2010 to serve as our local MP. Sixth Form girls also take part in the United Kingdom Youth Parliament. Our girls have successfully represented the Wirral area for many years. There are a variety of foreign trips to enjoy. The Science department visits the Large Hadron Collider in Cern, Religious Studies groups visit Rome and the Sixth Form make up a large percentage of our annual European music tour. The Modern Foreign Language department organise educational visits to Berlin, Paris, Barcelona and Madrid for all Sixth Form linguists. The History department visits Poland to look at issues surrounding the holocaust The Science department enters many of our sixth formers in a variety of national competitions. We have recently been successful in the British Biology Olympiad, the Royal Society of Chemistry Young Analyst competition, the Advanced Leaders Award for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and the Engineering Education Scheme. Girls are given opportunities to represent the school in a wide variety of sports, at which the school excel in both local and regional competitions. Many of our girls compete individually at national level. Competitive sport is very important in our Sixth Form. As well as playing against other schools, our senior netball team play in adult leagues twice a week. Sixth Formers are also qualified as Young Leaders in Netball, Volleyball and Athletics. Success at Wirral Grammar School for Girls is wonderfully diverse and we love celebrating it. The girls inspire each other to broaden their horizons and identify and highlight their hidden passions and talents.
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Enriching
Enrichment opportunities in other subjects include Nuffield Science, Engineering and Mathematics Bursaries and courses at Villiers Park aimed at challenging our very brightest sixth formers. A Sixth Form theatre club broadens the experiences of the arts. Our house system is run by sixth formers who ensure a steady stream of in-school competitions for all girls to enjoy. The house system raises and distributes money to both local and national charities.
Understanding Empowering Welcoming Enriching Aspiring Wirral Grammar School for Girls Heath Road Bebington Wirral CH63 3AF
Telephone: 0151 644 8282 Email: schooloffice@wirralgirls.co.uk Website: www.wirralgirls.co.uk Headteacher: Mrs. E. Cogan Registered in England No. 7695736 Designed & produced by WavePrint t: 0121 454 9441 e: info@waveprint.co.uk