Byrchall High School


Byrchall High School is secondary school and specialist Mathematics and Computing with academy status, located in the Ashton-in-Makerfield area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester.

Admissions

It has a mixed intake of both boys and girls aged 11-16. The current pupil population is approximately 1,200. The current headteacher is Mr. Alan Birchall. Byrchall High School is one of three secondary schools in Ashton, the other two being St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, located next to Byrchall High School, and Cansfield High School.
The school is situated between the A49 and the M6 on the southern edge of the Wigan borough, neighbouring St Helens.

History

Grammar school

It was founded in 1588 as Ashton Grammar School by Robert Byrchall on land donated by wealthy local land owner William Gerrard. The original building in Seneley Green is now Garswood Library. Through the school, Ashton-in-Makerfield Grammar School Old Boys F.C. entered the Lancashire Amateur Football League in 1951.
In 1960, Lancashire Education Committee proposed to amalgamate the school with Upholland Grammar School when the school had around 450 pupils. The school was administered by Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council from April 1974. By 1973 the school had 700 pupils and 800 by 1975.

Comprehensive

It became a comprehensive school in 1978.

Academy

The school became an academy on 1 October 2012.

Extra-curricular activities

The school has been involved in several different Fair Trade schemes, consisting of a tuckshop and various fund raising events. Most recently, four pupils visited Moshi, Tanzania, as Byrchall has links with the local Wazalendo High School.
It is well known locally for its annual senior citizens parties and drama performances, such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Grease.

Academic performance

The school's pupils generally obtain above-average GCSE results; one of the few schools in Wigan LEA to achieve this which is not a faith school.

Alumni