About Byrchall
A Message from the Headteacher
"Proud"
I am proud to be the headteacher of this high-achieving, caring community where every child is valued and encouraged to succeed.
At Byrchall we offer an exciting and stimulating learning environment with access to one of the broadest range of subject options in the region. In addition to more traditional subjects, every student is taught how to harness the latest technologies to equip them with the skills necessary for today's competitive job market.
Byrchall has a long history of academic success. Founded in 1588, the school has always given its students the best possible start in life by combining excellent teaching with the best specialist facilities.
Our students are happy, polite, articulate, ambitious and highly motivated by success. Many have gone on to complete degree courses at prestigious universities across the country.
We nurture the talents of all our students, promoting aspiration and encouraging them to be the very best that they can be. Our aim is to create confident, motivated, responsible citizens of the future.
I am extremely proud of our Byrchall community and invite you to visit us and experience for yourself all that we have to offer your son or daughter.
Mr. A.R. Birchall
Headteacher
Values
We are committed to providing a rich education for every child in our school, maximising each student’s academic achievement through the creation of an exceptional environment where personal abilities and individual talents are fully developed and celebrated.
Our vision is to:
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nurture an ethos that promotes academic and personal growth
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ensure high quality teaching and learning with high expectations of individual student performance
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provide an outstanding curriculum that inspires students to develop academically and personally, whilst equipping them for adult life in the 21st century
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offer a modern, well-resourced learning environment, within which students feel valued and learn to respect and co-operate with one another
We pledge to achieve our vision for our students’ education by:
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treating everyone justly regardless of religious belief, ethnic origin or social background
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promoting excellence academically, in sport, in the performing arts and in behaviour
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supporting students to develop their personalities, talents and abilities to the full
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recognising and respecting the important partnership between home and school
We are dedicated to enabling our students to achieve academic success, but we also want them to develop enquiring minds, a balanced outlook on life and to be fully confident adults.
Ethos
Byrchall High School, located on an extensive greenfield site, provides education for boys and girls of all abilities aged 11-16. The school specialises in Mathematics and Computing, has Leading Edge status and a continued commitment to leading teacher development and training.
There are two Trusts attached to the school. Foundation trustees, who are represented on the governing body, uphold and promote the founding values of the school. They also administer private funds at the school's disposal for the benefit of past and present students, which gives the school a small but valuable measure of independence. The Makerfield Community Trust comprises three organisations: Edge Hill University, The Anglican Diocese of Liverpool and ABTEC Computers. We enjoy a close relationship with these partners who support us in achieving our vision and specialist aims.
Our committed and industrious teachers are integral in the pursuit of our aims; they are dedicated to developing and implementing the best possible teaching and learning practices to not only maximise every student's progress but to make learning engaging and exciting. Just as all students are different, so are all teachers. All are driven by a passion for education but each brings their own special interests, experiences and skills. Our staff believe that it is the variety and innovation at Byrchall High School that makes their jobs so fulfilling and rewarding.
Byrchall's broad and balanced curriculum, wider enrichment opportunities and clear focus on new technology place it at the forefront of secondary schooling in the North West region.
History and Traditions
Byrchall High School is rich in history and was founded in 1588 by Sir Robert Byrchall with 12 children in one classroom. It was founded as Ashton Grammar School on land donated by wealthy local land owner William Gerrard. The original building in Seneley Green is now Garswood Library.
In 1960, Lancashire Education Committee proposed to amalgamate the school with Upholland Grammar School when the school had around 450 boys and girls. The school was administered by Wigan from April 1974. By 1973 the school had 700 boys and girls and 800 by 1975. The school eventually became a comprehensive in 1978, when it was renamed 'The Byrchall High School'.
Since then the school has continued to grow with new buildings being built to accomodate the increasing number of students and modern facilities to enhance the teaching of a range of subjects. In recent years the school has recieved many awards, accolades and accreditations - most notably becoming a Specialist Maths and Computing College in 2007.
