Birkenhead High School Academy

Birkenhead High School Academy is an all-ability state funded girls' Academy in Birkenhead, Wirral.IntroductionBirkenhead High School was the main Wirral private girls' school, but in 2010 became a non-fee paying Academy. It remains a member of the Girls' Day School Trust, a national educational charity based in London. The school has sports facilities with a number of tennis courts, all-weather pitches, gymnasium and swimming pool. In addition to a wide academic curriculum, aided by IT facilities, there is a music and drama scene and a range of after school clubs.It is situated on Devonshire Place just north of Trinity with Palm Grove Church. The school lies within the parish of Christ Church, Birkenhead although the tennis courts are in the parish of St Saviour's, and the playing fields are in the parish of St. James, Birkenhead.HistoryThe High Schools Company opened Birkenhead High School for Girls in 1884 in a building on Village Road in Oxton, Birkenhead. In 1901 it was purchased by the Girls' Public Day School Company (GPDSC). The school moved into 86 Devonshire Place in September 1905. In 1918 the school acquired 31 Devonshire Place to be the home of the junior school. During World War Two the girls were evacuated to Shrewsbury High School.Headmistresses 1917–1923: Edith Mabel Lucy Lees, 1923–1930: Jessie Margaret Hunter McCaig 1930–1952: H N Stephen 1952–1963: Phyllis Edith Winter 1964–1970: Irene Hindmarsh, afterwards Principal of St Aidan's College, Durham University, 1970–1988 1971–1986: Freda Kellett 1986–c.1997: Kathleen IrvingPresent: Christine Mann