Wirral Grammar system

[Sugley]

Hello,

I wonder has anyone any experience of Wirral Grammar for Girls or West Kirby Grammar? Or Blue Coat School in Liverpool?

My daughter is taking the Wirral 11+ and the Blue Coat exam but, due to Covid, we haven’t been able to view any of the schools and get a feel for them. There is a quick turnaround between results and having to have LA forms in this year and I was just interested as to whether anyone has any insight into the schools. Obviously, I know she has to pass and that location is a factor with the Wirral 11+.

Thanks in advance.

As you say admission criteria is firstly meeting the required standard in the 11+ tests and then the usual admission criteria of looked after children, siblings and distance. There is for both schools 15 places offered for pupils who access free school meals which comes above distance.
My immediate reaction is that if you are living on the wirral then bluecoat school is a long way everyday unless you as parent are driving into Liverpool. Parental preference seems at the moment to be that West Kirby is seen as the more "go to" school.
I feel obliged to point out that whilst putting down west kirby and wirral girls as your 2 top preferences, you would be taking a risk if you then chose bluecoats. The risk is a disaster in the tests, which would in effect leave you potentially with no school place that is a preference. At that point you would be allocated the nearest school with places, which could be anywhere. You should consider your nearest secondary school which is not a grammar as a fall back position.
Certainly Weatherhead (all girls) and Woodchurch High would be well thought of as alternatives to a grammar school.

Would agree with admission - unless you live on top of a train station in the Wirral, you’re looking at two buses and a train everyday plus a walk from the train in Liverpool to the bus for Blue Coat.

Thanks both for this information - it’s really helpful.

We would prefer not to travel to Liverpool but we were just keen for some insight about any of the three schools. Thanks again.

When you say insight what sort of information do you want?

Imo Blue Coat is very high pressured and students are let get away with bad behaviour if they’re high achievers. Wirral Grammar for Girls I know very little about but have to say none of the girls I know who attended have grown up to be very functional adults - lots of fondness for drama and overreaction and not great at interpersonal relationships. I’m talking about a sample of less than 20ish? But I have found it an unusual similarity

Thank you. I was just really interested to hear from anyone with children in the schools. I’m particularly interested to learn about pastoral care.

Thanks, everyone. My daughter passed both exams and so we have to see what happens with our preferences. Feels like a long wait until we find out from the LEA though.