The results are in for the Bebras Computing Challenge that took place at the start of November. Thanks to the addition of Computer Science to the S2 curriculum we were able to enter 212 students for the Bebras competition this year and it has paid dividends. Across the four age group categories Birkdale students managed to bag themselves 55 Gold Certificates. This places them in the top 10% of the 350,000 students who entered Bebras this year. Notable successes included 'Best in School' for Tommy in S1 and Ollie in S3 (pictured), Ruaridh in S5 and Matt in U6. Matt achieved a rare perfect score this year to crown his many previous computing successes. Golden ticket winners also earn an invite to take part in the Oxford University Computing Challenge - a further competition to be run in January 2023. We have already started training at Code Club for this event which has a heavier focus on programming than the Bebras questions. Students can come along to Code Club on Thursdays to join in or use the tutorials online that can be accessed through the Bebras site.

Birkdale Sixth Form students Ed and Oli recently completed the Ironman 70.3 in Portugal. They undertook this test of endurance to raise funds for The Peace Garden School in Nepal. RNVNepal is a charity which Birkdale have been associated with for over 20 years. We would like to congratulate Ed and Oli on this fantastic achievement. They wrote the following account of their incredible journey. If you would like to support them please go to their gofundme page: https://gofund.me/1d492d17 "We both felt quite nervous the night before and neither of us had much sleep before the alarm went off at 5.15am. We left the hotel 30 minutes later and arrived at the race at 6.15am to go through pre-race checks, ensure everything was ready for the different stages and get our wetsuits on. It was very busy with around 2,500 competitors, race officials and several thousand supporters. The course was a treacherous one and started with us running down the beach into the Atlantic ocean for a 1,900-meter swim. The water was really cold and people were competing for space, and were quite physical at times. Just over 30 minutes later we exited the sea and had to run 500m up a hill to T1, the transition stage where we had to get out wetsuits off and get ready for the bike leg. We took off on our bikes for the 90km ride and very quickly started to climb out of the town. The next 25kms were spent riding through the hills above Cascais, which had some brutal climbs but also some down hills where we got up to 70kph at times. There were two real highlights on the bike stage, the first was the opportunity to cycle around the Estoril F1 track as well as 50km of riding along the coast on closed roads. At this stage Oli was doing really well and Ed was just behind him, but then unfortunately Ed had a flat tyre which he could not fix. The only choices were either to withdraw or cycle 20km to the next bike station for specialist technical help, so he put his head down and cracked on, although at about 60% of the speed he had been doing. Unfortunately, the mechanic could not help, so the only option he had was to carry on for the last 5km, yet with even more bad luck his front tyre was damaged, and so he had to ride the last 5km with two flats, which was really tough. Meanwhile, Oli had rushed through T2 and was quickly on the two-lap run along Cascais bay. It was now the middle of the day and with the sun beating down it was in the high 20’s, the race had been going for around 4 hours by now, but the crowds were fantastic with lots of support. When the time came we both ran down the finish line to hear our names over the tanoy and lots of applause from thousands of spectators. [...]

Birkdale’s pupils celebrate best results in three years – despite impact of pandemic Despite the huge challenges of studying for GCSEs during a pandemic, pupils at Sheffield’s Birkdale School are celebrating the best set of results in three years – exceeding the last set of grades from examinations in 2019 and the centre assessed grades of 2020 and 2021. Three in ten results (30%) were at the highest possible grade 9 with nearly half (48%) at the top two grades, 8 and 9, with two-thirds (66%) at 7 and above. Across the School there have been stories of individual success, with one in ten pupils achieving an entire set of results at grade 9. While 15 departments had over half of pupils receiving results at the top two grades – 9 and 8. Peter Harris, Birkdale School Head, said: “Congratulations to our pupils on an excellent set of GCSE results across the school which have been achieved despite the extremely difficult circumstances faced over the past two and a half years. “The achievements show the fortitude and resilience of our pupils, the innovation of our teachers and staff, and the support of our wider family in limiting as much as possible the impact of the pandemic on their education. “It is clear the hard work everyone in the Birkdale family put in when schools closed and lockdowns began has made a huge difference – from investing in our online learning provision, to supporting our children’s health and wellbeing, to bringing our community together in innovative ways at a time when we were forced apart. “I would have been proud of those efforts whatever today’s results had shown, but for them to positively reflect the commitment and energy is hugely welcome.”

They should be proud of what they have achieved” – Birkdale Head’s message as pandemic-impacted students receive A Level results Birkdale School is celebrating their students’ A Level success in results from the first year since 2019 when grades have been determined by external examinations. The School achieved a 100% pass rate overall 40% of all grades were at the highest A* or A with one in five pupils achieved a set of results with every grade at the highest A* or A 70% achieved results which were all at grades A* – B 80% of students have gained places to study at their first choice of university. At Birkdale, we are always proud to build firm foundations whatever our students aspire to. Among this year’s notable achievements across the Sixth Form: Four students gained places at either Oxford or Cambridge: Terrell, Veterinary Medicine (Downing College, Cambridge); Tom, Ancient and Modern History (University College, Oxford); Jonathan, Maths (St. Johns College, Cambridge) and Christian, Law (St. Johns, Oxford). Eight students will study a variety of Engineering disciplines, including: Mechanical; Electrical; Automotive and Civil. Four students – Alhasan, Khizr, Eshaan and Zayan – will go on to study Medicine. Our thriving performing arts programme has also shown significant achievements – Joel will study acting; Callum, Theatre; Maddie, French and Theatre (2023); Luke will study Music at Leeds Conservatoire and Esme will study Film (2023). We also have a number of students who have chosen design-based courses including Architecture, Interior Architecture and Graphic Design. Peter Harris, Birkdale School Head, said: “On behalf of our entire Birkdale family, I want to send my congratulations to our students on their results, especially as they have been among the worst impacted by the pandemic which changed all our worlds. “Having their GCSE examinations cancelled in 2020, and spending much of the first six months of their A Level studies working from home, the challenges have been immense – but so too has their perseverance, determination and resilience. Whatever the grades received today, they should be proud of what they have achieved. “As Ofqual and UCAS said earlier this week, it is not meaningful to compare this year’s results to those of 12 months ago, so it is important young people – and those in the world beyond – understand that, and celebrate the successes in what has been a period of turmoil.”

On 15th September, 20 Upper 6th Physics students and 4 teachers set off on a trip to Geneva, Switzerland for four days. This trip was very special as it was our first post covid international trip. There were a myriad of memorable experiences shared in Geneva. One of the key features being the factual knowledge gained in CERN from the ATLAS building, and the Globe Of Science and Innovation. We also had the exciting opportunity of meeting a Sheffield University PhD student who discussed with us the multiple research projects he is involved in at CERN. The trip also enriched us in Swiss culture and cuisine. It didn’t take much for our cohort to step out of their comfort zone and enjoy as much Fondue as Physics. We were thoroughly impressed by the guided tour of the UN headquarters and the Red Cross Museum. As well as seeing one of the few most important ethnographic museums in Switzerland. The boat trip across Lake Geneva and walking to the Jet d’Eau, gave us plenty of touristy moments we won’t forget. And thanks to Miss Dul’s linguistic skills the group were able to order 20 ice creams in all the Swiss flavours. All in all this was a very well organised trip and the teachers were brilliant. The trip went without a hitch thanks to Mr Clifford’s exceptional organisation skills. I think we all will remember the trip for the rest of our lives and I would highly recommend this trip to any future boys and girls doing physics! Written by Jannah, U6P

This is an incredibly sad day for The Royal Family, for our country and for us all. On behalf of the Birkdale family, I extend our sympathies to her family who have not just lost a beloved leader but a dear mother, grandmother and great grandmother. They are in my prayers. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I has been a loyal servant providing stability and support to so many for so long. She has, quite simply, always been there and I know many will find the fact we now have to face life without her, incredibly sad and incredibly difficult. In the coming days, we will remember Her Majesty across our school and join with those throughout our community and country mourning her loss.

Last Friday the entire School community came together to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a Garden Party and BBQ. Friends of Birkdale School organised the event with a plethora of stalls and activities. These included: a fabulous cake stall; adopt a bear; face painting; bouncy pirate ship; craft activities; pin the tail on the corgi; name the bear and regal selfie booth to name but a few. There was also a regal bake off with some stunning entries and the ever popular stocks where our Head and Head of the Prep School got a soaking! Thank you to everyone who came and supported the event and to all of the kind volunteers who made it possible.