[2006] BIRKENHEAD
SCHOOL
One of the greatest influences on my later life was the rather public unique school I attended. Although it was not a full-blown boarding school, and I was a day boy as were most of the pupils, it was a highly respected public school. It was, though, unusually – for a system which was supposed to produce the elite who were to maintain the status quo - dedicated to developing its pupils as individuals - almost as rebels – which is what I have been ever since. It was also, at least in the sixth forms, probably the happiest and most fulfilling time of my life – and in many respects the most successful one. In fact, I started in its 'Preparatory' offshoot:
[0057- Birkenhead Prep School]
Having graduated from this, I moved on to the first part of the senior school proper:
0063 Birkenhead Junior School (0063T*)
However, as it was a public school, it purported to follow the practice of entry to the senior school by the ‘common entrance’ at the age of 13. In reality this was a fiction, and I knew of nobody who had actually entered at this age. Thereafter, my school career followed – year by year - the traditional progress up to O levels The teaching was excellent, the best in the area, and set me up for life.
0040
Third-Form
(0040T*)
0041 Form Four
(0041T*)
0098 Fifth Form
The real success of the school was, though, that most pupils went beyond the O levels to A levels and S Levels.
0097 Lower Sixth
(0097T*)
0014 The Sixth Form
0568 Upper Sixth
(0568T*)
Apart from the scholastic aspects referred to above, there were only two other mandatory activities; the impact of both of which persuaded me not to follow such activities later in life!
* Text only versions
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