College shortlisted for best in North of England

Birkenhead Sixth Form College has been named as a finalist for a prestigious award for the best Further Education College of the Year in the North of England.

Educate North Awards celebrates excellence in the education sector in the North, and the College has been recognised as a leader and innovator in the field of sixth form provision.

The award shortlisting comes as Birkenhead Sixth Form College bucked the national trend of a downturn in A Level results in 2022 following Covid measures for awarding grades without sitting formal exams. Where the picture in the UK saw high grades fall following a return to students taking exams, the College’s high grades jumped 15%.

The reputation of students’ achievements at the College has led to increasing demand for places year upon year, and so further investment on the site overlooking Birkenhead Park has been necessary to cope. Completion of the £1.35m building of another nine classrooms and study areas on the Shrewsbury Road end of the campus is imminent, having already extended capacity with further government funding in 2019, establishing the Psychology block.

Performance measures released in January showed that students at the College who might have chosen grammar school sixth forms performed considerably better at Birkenhead Sixth Form College, with 80% achieving high grades of A* - B at A Level.

Principal at Birkenhead Sixth Form College, Mike Kilbride, said: “Being recognised for such renowned awards in education is a pleasure for us as teachers, but most importantly it shows that students in the local area have a genuine high class alternative option after GCSEs. We have a real commitment to the Wirral and hope our community is proud to have us at their service.

“We have previously been winners of Educate North Awards, and one that stands out was acknowledging our commitment to social mobility. We believe that every student can achieve great things, no matter their background or starting point with us, and that runs through the core of everything we do.”

Mike continued: “We have an outstanding body of teachers and support staff here and this award rightly recognises their fantastic work. It’s also vitally important to appreciate our students in this though, as their drive to better themselves when they come here makes all the hard work worthwhile. They are a credit to us and to the community.” 

To apply online for a place at Birkenhead Sixth Form College in September 2023 after Year 11, click here.