Birkdale High School

Birkdale High School was a secondary school located in Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. The school's buildings were constructed in two distinct phases; the older building, comprising mainly the former Wheelwright Grammar School for Girls and a newly built wing connected by a bridge c1980. The school was set amongst grassed grounds with a large playing and track area and more secluded grassed quadrangles located within the main building.The school was located on Wheelwright Drive. near the Dewsbury/Batley border. The intake of the school was reflected by the surrounding area, most pupils were taken from the Batley/Dewsbury area due to the school's central location and its position on many bus routes through the surrounding towns. The school had a slightly higher male population due to the presence of an all-girls school in the school's catchment area as noted by OFSTED. The school became quite small in the years before closure, with just under 600 pupils in 2006/7. In May 2015 the CBBC show Hank Zipzer was filmed at the closed school premises after production was relocated from St Catherine's Catholic High School to Birkdale for Series 3 and onwards. The main entrance sign was carved as Westbrook Academy.ClosureDespite a campaign by parents, staff, pupils and members of the local community to keep Birkdale High School open, Kirklees Council formally closed the school in August 2011.