LIVE TO LEARN, LEARN TO LIVE
Thanks for everyone joined our Open Evening 2025!
Visit our Transition Pages for more information.
“Being at Byrchall has allowed me to try so many new things. I take part in experiments and practical lessons and I learn more in the clubs and activities that are for everyone here. I have made friends quickly, it’s made school so much fun.”
“I’m so happy that I chose Byrchall for my children. It really is a wonderful school. The pastoral support is amazing and I would definitely recommend the school. ”
“School is somewhere I feel welcome and able to be myself. I am proud and happy to be a student at Byrchall.”
“The best thing about the school is the dedicated staff. They really do go above and beyond for the students and I can’t fault them in any way. ”
“I have really enjoyed my first year at Byrchall. I have tried so many new skills, joined three clubs and I have made friends so quickly. It feels like I have always been here.”
Latest news
🔬 Science Club is back!
Join us every Wednesday lunchtime in room 2–08 for hands-on experiments, curiosity, and plenty of fun. Open to all year groups.
Check out the poster to see what’s on each week — we can’t wait to see you there!
#science #extracurricular #HandsOnLearning
🏸🔥 Our Staff & Student Badminton Final on the last day before the Christmas break was packed with energy, determination and some seriously impressive skills.
The atmosphere was electric, and the team spirit on display summed up our community perfectly. Huge congratulations to Mrs Jenkins and Luke Oliver, and a massive well done to everyone who took part!
#badminton #sports #TeamSpirit
✨ Byrchall Recognition – Half Term Focus: Leadership ✨
Byrchall Recognition celebrates your achievements inside and outside of school across our four strands:
💬 Participation | 🌟 Leadership | 🏆 Excellence | 🤝 Community
Look at out leaderboards for the last half term! Can you help your year group/house to catch up?
This half term, we’re shining a spotlight on Leadership 💡
Leadership is the ability to inspire, guide and influence others to achieve shared goals.
Simply put — a leader is someone who makes things better for others.
What does leadership look like in school?
✔ Standing up for someone
✔ Including others
✔ Doing the right thing, even when no one’s watching
✔ Following our SMART STEPS
Your challenge this half term:
👉 Work towards achieving your LEADERSHIP BADGE either inside or outside school
🔔 Remember to:
• Log your leadership actions
• Link them to the relevant member of staff
• Pop to 0–09 every Friday lunchtime if you need help logging
Step up. Lead by example. Make a difference. ✨
#ByrchallRecognition #Leadership #CelebrateSuccess
⭐ Byrchall Recognition Programme: Student Successes over the Christmas Break ⭐
Our amazing students are constantly on the go! Our recognition e-mail inbox has been buzzing over the Christmas break with fantastic achievements from students outside school keep them coming in to out recognition email address.
🏅 Isabella B passed her Level 8 gymnastics exam, receiving her certificate and medal with Leigh Gymnastics Club – fantastic work!
🎀 Ivy, Eva & Libby competed with Hawks Cheer & Pom at the BCA Winter Weekender:
3rd place in cheer (Ivy & Eva)
3rd place in pom (Ivy & Libby)
4th place in pom (Eva)
🤸 Daisy, an elite acrobatic gymnast, won multiple gold medals, was selected for the North West Squad, and will compete internationally in Porto at Junior level – an incredible achievement!
We’re so proud of our students – keep the success stories coming via our recognition inbox: recognition@byrchall.wigan.sch.uk and remember to log on Synergy Recognition to claim your pin badges! 💛
#ByrchallProud #StudentSuccess #ByrchallRecognitionProgramme
As we wave goodbye to the year, we want to wish our entire community a Happy New Year! 🎆
May 2026 bring joy, new adventures, and more wonderful memories together. Thank you for making our school such a warm and inspiring place — we can’t wait to see what the new year holds!
#newyear #2026 #celebration
Wishing a very Merry Christmas to all our students, families, staff, and the wider community! 🎄✨
Thank you for being part of our school family — we’re so grateful for each and every one of you. May your day be filled with love, laughter, and special moments with those you hold dear.
#Christmas #festivevibes
Huge thanks to our whole school community for donations of food and gifts, but also their time and energy as we worked on our Ashton Pantry Take Over this week
Just 3 weeks ago, Mrs Lipton challenged everyone in school to take part, and as ever, Byrchall met the challenge with a smile, a ton of energy, and so much more!
Sorting food, cleaning and preparing goods in the Pantry and Cafe, staff and students have volunteered throughout the week to bring together the two special communities of St Thomas Church and our school and for every person in our local area.
We are so proud of the work our community have undertaken this week and their kindness. We hope it has given then a taste of how amazing volunteering can be!
Thank you and Merry Christmas to the volunteers at Ashton Pantry - you supported and inspired us all!
#pantry #foodbank #volunteer #commuity
Miss Dowd was hugely impressed by the creativity and quality of the skeletons Year 7 brought in this week. After learning about bones and joints, students designed their own skeletons as part of a competition, with some fantastic ideas on display.
A special congratulations to our winner, Sophia Melling, who spent hours creating an outstanding 3D skeleton. Well done also to our runners-up, who impressed with their storytelling and knowledge by naming different bones.
The lesson finished on a high note as we got our own skeletons moving with a Just Dance session — a great lesson and lots of fun had by all.
#skeleton #creativity #justdance
Another outstanding achievement outside of school 👏
Daisy (Year 7) has had an incredible run in acrobatics. She won gold at the North West Acrobatic Championships in November and was selected for the North West squad — a huge milestone. She followed this with another gold at the Club Championships and an impressive performance in the Christmas display, completing four-person balances.
Daisy has also been selected to compete at the MIAC International Cup in Porto this March. A fantastic achievement and a real credit to her hard work and commitment!
#dance #CelebrateSuccess
Christmas Countdown: It’s the last day of school before Christmas! 🎄
As we look back on December, one of the highlights was definitely our Byrchall Christmas Festival this Tuesday. The evening brought students, families and members of the local community together to enjoy a range of Christmas markets, student and staff performances, interactive games and festive activities, with a special visit from Father Christmas and his elves. It was a joyful celebration that truly reflected the strong sense of community at Byrchall.
We’d like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for your support throughout the term — enjoy a well-earned break.
#Christmas #countdown #festivevibes
Thank you to everyone who voted in our Christmas Pet Portrait Photography Competition at Tuesday’s Christmas Festival. After counting all the public votes, we have a winner… drum roll please… Lucy Edwards! Congratulations 🎉
A big well done to everyone who entered — your creativity and festive spirit truly stood out, adding so much colour and joy to the Christmas Festival and helping to share that festive atmosphere with our wider community.
#Christmas #festivevibes #photography #pet
Yesterday after school, our Netball Club enjoyed a fun and festive session together.
With surprise appearances from a reindeer and the Grinch, the atmosphere was full of laughter while still keeping active and focused on teamwork. Well done, everyone!
#netball #sports #Christmas #teamwork
SENIOR HOUSE COMPETITION
Our History
Byrchall High School was founded in 1588 at the behest of Robert Birchall. He established the school with the vision of providing outstanding educational provision for the young people of our area. Since then Byrchall has benefitted from the many donations of land, resources and even cakes and ales for its students-a tradition celebrated each year on our Founder’s Day!
Our founder believed in education and in community. In this proud tradition our school today maintains its strong links with our local community and The Church of England. We remain steadfast in our work of enabling every young person in our community to achieve their full potential as an integral part of Byrchall High School.
Recent History
To celebrate our rich and long standing school history within the Wigan borough, we held an alumni event.
Pupils and staff who attended Byrchall high school throughout the decades were invited back to share their stories, memories and to look back on some of our archived photographs, booklets and school memorabilia.
Take a look at the event for yourself using the button below.
Our Values
Byrchall High School is committed to fostering an environment built on strong core values that shape both the academic and personal growth of its students. Our motto encapsulates all we try to do every day.
Learn to Live – enjoy and achieve.
Live to Learn – now and in the future.
These values are underpinned by the daily practice of respect, responsibility, resilience, and aspiration, which guide the behaviour and decision-making of the school community.
Respect is encouraged in all interactions, promoting kindness and understanding amongst students and staff.
Responsibility is emphasised, ensuring that students take ownership of their learning and actions.
Resilience is nurtured through challenges, empowering students to overcome obstacles and learn from setbacks.
Aspiration drives the pursuit of excellence, encouraging students to aim high and reach their full potential. Together, these values create a positive, supportive, and ambitious school culture where every individual is welcome and integral to our community.
OUR FUTUREs
Encouraging aspiration in young people is essential for helping them to realise their full potential and pursue meaningful goals.
With a stimulating and varied curriculum including academic, creative and extra-curriular options for every child, Byrchall makes learning exciting.
All students are encouraged to plan for a bright future, fostering a growth mindset where challenges are seen as opportunities to learn and grow rather than obstacles.
By providing our students with diverse role models, exposing them to various career paths, and celebrating their achievements, we can inspire ambition and a sense of possibility.
Mentorship, personalised support, guidance, and creating an environment where their interests are nurtured can further ignite their drive to succeed.
Encouraging self-belief and resilience ensures that our young people remain focused on their aspirations, even in the face of challenges and a changing world, empowering them to set high standards for themselves and strive toward fulfilling futures in whatever area they choose.
