SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Wirral prides itself in the range and quality of secondary education. This assertion is confirmed by Ofsted, who have consistently judged the overall quality of education in Wirral Secondary schools to be better than similar local authorities and the England average. The schools have benefited both in physical and human resources as part of the Excellence in Cities initiative and a Public Finance building initiative. By 2005 we are expecting that all secondary schools will be at the leading edge of national developments through being either a specialist school, hosting a City Learning Centre, a member of the Creative Partnership Scheme or a lead secondary school in an Education Achievement Zone. In addition to this specialist provision, all schools benefit from activities within the Excellence Challenge, Learning Mentor and Gifted and Talented strands of the EiC programme and through their involvement in the Key Stage Three Strategy for numeracy, literacy, science, information and communication technology and foundation subjects.

Wirral has a rich tapestry of secondary school provision. There are 22 secondary schools in total; sixteen are community schools which are non-denominational. In these schools the governors have overall responsibility for the conduct of the school but the LEA is the admissions authority. There are two foundation schools and four voluntary aided Catholic schools. In these schools the governors have responsibility not only for the conduct of the school but also the admissions policy. There are four special schools, an all age hospital school and a pupil referral unit.

Wirral maintains all-ability (comprehensive) schools and grammar schools. There are four distinct geographical areas. In Birkenhead there are five community all-ability schools which cater for 11 to 16-year olds and two Catholic grammar schools. A sixth form college provides education after the age of 16 for pupils from the community all-ability schools, and other Wirral schools. Visit Birkenhead 6th Form College's website at www.bsfc.ac.uk.

In Wallasey there are four community 11 to 18 all-ability schools and one 11 to 18 Catholic all-ability school.

In Bebington there are five 11 to 18 schools. Two are grammar schools (a community grammar school for girls and a foundation grammar school for boys). There are two all-ability community schools and one Catholic all-ability school.

In Deeside there are five schools. Two are grammar schools (a community grammar school for girls and a foundation grammar school for boys) and there are three community all-ability schools.

Although there is such a wide variety of schools there is significant collaboration with each other and at all levels within the schools. This leads to a vibrant education community that is at the forefront and often in advance of the national educational agenda. There is a first class support network for newly qualified teachers and an active continuing professional development programme based in schools and through the Wirral Education Centre.

Musical instrument and voice tuition is provided in secondary schools by the very active Wirral Schools' Music Service. In addition to school musical groups, opportunities also exist for pupils to enjoy high quality music making in orchestras, brass bands, wind bands and a choir on midweek evenings and Saturday mornings - the music service is based at Acre Lane.