Birkdale has grown and developed since the post war years into a school offering a continuous curriculum for boys age 4 to 18 and girls in the Sixth Form.
This expansion led to the reorganisation of the school and a new Preparatory School was established at Clarke House, situated in a pleasant residential area near the University and close to the Senior School.
The school has a firm Christian tradition and this, coupled with the size of the school, ensures that the boys develop their own abilities, whether academic or otherwise, to the full.
The Pre Preparatory Department is accommodated in a self contained wing of the school but enjoys full use of the well resourced facilities of the Preparatory School. Specialist subject teaching across the curriculum starts at the age of 7 and there is an advantageous exchange of teachers between Preparatory and Senior Schools, ensuring communication and ease of transfer. Setting in the core subjects in the final two years enhance, still further, the pupil teacher ratio.
The school has its own Matron and pastoral care is given high priority. Boys are encouraged to join a wide variety of clubs and societies in their leisure time. Music plays a significant part in school life, both in and out of the timetable. There is a large choir and orchestra and there are strong choral links with Sheffield Cathedral where many of the choristers are Birkdalians. In addition, there is a joint scholarship available between the Cathedral and the school.
Cricket, Association and Rugby Football are played on the school's own substantial playing fields, which are within easy reach of the school. Instruction in Tennis and Judo are available as part of the extensive extra curricular programme. The majority of boys pass into the Senior School.
