Birkdale School
| Birkdale School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
 | |
Oakholme Road , , S10 3DH | |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent school |
| Motto | Res Non Verba "Deeds Not Words" |
| Established | 1904 |
| Founder | Rev Maurice Asterley |
| Head Master | Robert Court, MA (Cantab) |
| Colour(s) | Red and dark blue |
| Publication | The Birkdalian |
| Former pupils | Old Birkdalians |
| Website | http://www.birkdaleschool.org.uk/ |
Template:FixBunching Birkdale School is an independent school for boys (and girls in Sixth Form) in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire in England, and is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.
History
Birkdale was founded in 1904 by the Reverend Maurice Asterley as a preparatory school for boys between the ages of 4 and 13 to provide a Christian education. First housed in Birkdale House on Newbould Lane, it moved in 1915 to its present location on Oakholme Road. Birkdale extended from just being a preparatory school in 1980, and established a Sixth Form in 1988, girls being admitted for the first time in 1995.[1] The school has gradually expanded, and now is home to over 700 pupils, including approximately 50 girls in the co-educational Sixth Form.
Houses
There is a House system employed at Birkdale, four in total, each named after old Head Masters:
- Asterley House (Maurice Asterley 1904–09)
- Griffith House (Alban Griffiths 1909–33)
- Hall House (John Hall 1963–83)
- Heeley House (Howard Heeley 1943–63)
The Prep School has a slightly different house system, with a house dedicated to J.G. Roberts, Head Master 1933–43, and one to the family of Sir John Osborn, Conservative MP for Sheffield Hallam 1959–1987, of Osborn House, the current site of the Preparatory School.
The Birkdalian
The Birkdalian has, since the mid twentieth century, been the school magazine. Currently published once a year late in the Christmas term it provides an account of a year in the life of the school. Articles are written by staff and pupils and edited by a small group of staff and senior pupils.
Administration
The current Head Master is Robert Court, educated at St Paul's and Clare College, Cambridge. He was the deputy head of Westminster School for four years before taking up the headship at Birkdale.[1] He announced at the end of the 2009 Easter Term that he intends to retire in the Summer of 2010 after 12 years at the school.
The deputy head is Alastair Gloag, from King's School, Gloucester. He replaced Andrew Johnson, who left at the end of the Summer Term 2006 for the post of Head Master at Stonyhurst College.
Sport
The school has a selection of sporting facilities, most notably large playing fields at Castle Dyke located on the outskirts of Sheffield. Castle Dyke is primarily used for football, rugby, cross country and cricket. On campus the school has a sports hall and an attached gym (for use of older pupils and staff only), containing weights and equipment for badminton, basketball and other sports.
During the 2007–08 school year, the U16 Rugby team became one the most successful teams in Birkdale's history by reaching the national quarter final of the Daily Mail Vase.[2]
Duke of Edinburgh's Award
The majority of pupils are involved in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award from the age of 13. Many go on to complete the Silver and Gold awards in the Sixth Form. The Outdoor Pursuits staff, led by Chaplain J. D. Allen, encourage and facilitate all pupils to continue the award scheme beyond the Bronze level.
Buildings
Much of Birkdale School is comprised of large Victorian buildings, formerly belonging to various Sheffield businessmen. The Johnson Building (pictured) was the home of the Bassett family, owners of the confectionery manufacturer.
Head Masters
- Reverend Maurice Asterley (1904–09)
- Alban Griffiths (1909–39)
- J. G. Roberts (1939–43)
- Howard Heeley (1943–1963)
- John Hall (1963–83)
- Reverend Michael Hepworth (1983–98)
- Robert Court (1998–2010)
Nepal
As part of the school's charity projects it has developed strong links with some institutions in and around Kathmandu in Nepal. Most notable are the Peace Garden School, for which the school has helped raise money for a new school building, and a leper colony on the outskirts of Kathmandu, where Birkdale is helping to build new facilities and a new school. Money has also been granted to other schools to help purchase equipment or develop facilities. For each of the Nepal visits (in build up to it) there is usually a series of walks and group activity weekends across the county from barbecues and abseiling to presentations on previous trips. There is also a yearly jumble sale which raises money for every NepaX expedition.
As with other school charity projects, the money is raised through charity events and fund-raisers (as opposed to taking it from the school accounts). Since the year 2000, trips have been run once a year to Nepal for pupils and teachers. These involve volunteer work teaching or otherwise working at the schools and leper colony as well as a trek in the Anapurna region and a visit to the Chitwan jungle. The trips are considered crucial in maintaining strong personal links with contacts in Nepal, and helping charitable funds to be focused effectively.
As well as links with Nepal, the school has begun to form links with J. E. B. Stuart High School in Virginia, USA, following on from a teacher exchange, and in October 2007 a group of pupils travelled to visit the school.
Nepa10 is planned to leave during the 2010 Easter term, lead by teachers at Birkdale School.
Notable Old Birkdalians
- Robert Arthur Balfour, 2nd Baron Riverdale (1901–98)[1]
- Michael Palin (born 1943), comedian, actor, traveller and writer[1]
- Ian G. Walker (born 1958), industrialist
- Richard Allan MP (born 1966), politician[1]
- Richard Coyle (born 1972), actor
- Justin Wilson (born 1978), racing driver