“Before Hannah started in year 7, I had had very little contact with South Wirral and didn’t know other parents who had children at the school. Therefore when she didn’t pass the 11+, I had initial concerns as to whether Hannah would be happy at South Wirral as we both knew very little about the school. My main concern was whether Hannah would be pushed to her full potential. After her first week, however, I could see how settled Hannah was, and any prior worries had completely gone. From day one she has been encouraged to be the best that she can be. As a parent, I really appreciated the phone calls and letters home praising Hannah for her progress and achievements. From the initial parents meeting during her first term, I saw how caring and approachable all the staff were.
I was particularly encouraged by Mrs. McCormack (she retired Easter 2016) who not only knew the names of every student in the school but would recognise and chat to each parent individually. As a result of getting to know Hannah as an individual, the staff gave her the exact care and support she needed. During her final year, in particular, Hannah had a lot on her plate with exams, head girl, and extra-curricular duties but her teachers took the time to continuously check in with her to ensure she was happy and not becoming too overwhelmed.
The dedication of all of the staff was shown in the huge range of extra-curricular activities available all year round as well as their extra exam and revision support during the exam period. The relationship between the teachers and students was shown in the staff involvement in Dance/Drama each year; they really set a great example for their students.
Hannah has thoroughly enjoyed her seven years at South Wirral, and I can’t thank the school enough for giving her the chance to shine. She has been encouraged to become more independent, to stand by her beliefs and morals to become the hard working, confident person she is today. South Wirral has a great team of staff, and I’d like to thank them all for everything that they have done for Hannah during her time at the school. Seeing how Hannah has grown in confidence and how settled she has been has really helped me as a parent too.” Mrs Dobson
*Hannah secured a place at the University of Leeds, Sports and Exercise BA (Hons) starting September 2017, after a work-experience gap year.