Wirral Life February 2020 | Page 14

W L BIRKENHEAD SCHOOL LAUNCHES FULLY FUNDED SIXTH FORM ACCESS SCHOLARSHIPS At this time of year, many Wirral students will be deciding on where to study A Levels from September. Birkenhead School has announced that 100% Funded Sixth Form Access Scholarships are available for students from September 2020. Paul Vicars, Headmaster, has announced the launch of fully- funded Access Scholarships for students who would benefit from all an independent education can offer, but who would otherwise be unable to do so without significant funding being made available. He states, “Birkenhead School is committed to removing as many barriers to entry to study at the School as possible. We believe our Sixth Form offering is an outstanding one; committed to academic excellence combined with forward- thinking initiatives to give our students a head start for the years ahead. As the size of our Sixth Form grows, we are excited to be able to offer extensive means-tested financial support to students with strong academic credentials, who would otherwise not be able to consider enjoying their sixth form education with us.” What can an independent education offer? Louise Smeaton, Head of Sixth Form writes, "At Birkenhead School, we are immensely proud of our examination results and, alongside outstanding teaching, the wealth of opportunities afforded to our students. Indeed, being a member of the Sixth Form here is about so much more than academic success, and we offer a vast range of co-curricular activities across Music, Drama and Sport, all of which are designed to inspire creativity, encourage self-discipline and develop leadership. We aim to 14 wirrallife.com teach our Sixth Formers to be independent thinkers and to foster a lifelong love of learning. Whether their interests lie in the Arts and Humanities, the Sciences, or both, superb facilities and excellent resources allow our students to excel in their chosen field. "A particularly exciting feature of our Sixth Form is Birkenhead Futures, a programme designed to prepare students for Higher Education and the world of work. Whilst we recognise that some sixth formers will have a very clear idea of their chosen career path, we do not expect this to be the case for all. The aim of Birkenhead Futures, therefore, is to support every student as they prepare to pursue their own personal goals and fulfil their ambitions. Students participate in a range of engaging and interactive workshops and seminars during their time in the Lower and Upper Sixth, led by our dedicated Futures team. "Of course, with degree apprenticeships offering a serious alternative to the undergraduate degree, it is essential that students are able to make an informed choice about the next stage in their lives. Our Internship and Apprenticeship Adviser has a wealth of experience in this area and is committed to raising awareness of the effective routes into high profile national