Calday Grange Grammar School, commonly shortened to Calday, is a non-denominational, selective boys' grammar school in West Kirby on the Wirral Peninsula, England. Founded in 1636, the school admits boys aged 11 to 18 and, since 1985, girls for the sixth form only. The school hosts the Wirral Able Children Centre, and has been awarded Sportsmark Gold and Investors in People status. It was previously a specialist technology and modern foreign languages (MFL) college under the former high performing specialist schools (HPSS) programme.
By September 2019, a total of 1,492 students were in attendance at the school, of which, 399 belonged to the co–educational sixth form.
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School history
Founded in 1636, Calday Grange Grammar School is Wirral's oldest surviving grammar school. Originally established by local landowner William Glegg, the school has remained at its present site since its opening in the 17th Century. It is located in Grange, a suburb of West Kirby (historically known as Calday Grange, giving its name to the school). Since it began with just 12 pupils, the school has since grown into an establishment of approximately 1,400 students – including around 400 students in the co-educational Sixth Form.
On 1 January 2009, the ownership of the school's land and buildings was transferred to the Calday Grange Trust, a charitable partnership between Calday Grange Grammar School, the University of Liverpool, Unilever Research and Development and Maestro Services. Calday Grange Grammar School was the first Wirral school to convert to Trust Status.
In September 2011, the school informed parents, "The School has received notification from Companies House that the Calday Grange Trust Company has been dissolved. This has been notified by the Governing Body who contacted Wirral Local Authority and indicated their wish to revert to the Foundation Schools Instrument of Government".
In July 2011, the process for converting to an academy school was begun, and the school converted to academy status with effect from 1 January 2013.
Location and overview
The main school is on Grammar School Lane, West Kirby, close to the Dee Estuary coastline of the Wirral Peninsula. Students travel primarily from the Wirral, Cheshire and North Wales areas. The main site is occupied by ten school buildings, all-weather courts and fields.
In addition to an on-site swimming pool, sports hall, fitness suite and outdoor recreation areas within the school grounds, Calday's Glasspool Field, on nearby Telegraph Road, offers three rugby union pitches, a cricket field, athletics facilities, artificial turf hockey pitches and tennis courts for the students' physical education.
House system
Calday uses a house system, an integral part of the school community. House Captains and School Council members work together to create a stronger student voice and further the community spirit of the school.
The three Houses are named after former Headmasters; Bennett, Glegg, and Hollowell, with each house having its own colour (seen below). Student uniforms differ depending on which house they belong to: stripes on school ties, and the school's crest worn on blazers and pullovers each incorporating the student's applicable house colour.
Bennett Hollowell Glegg
Academic performance
In 2015 96% of Year 11 students achieved 5 GCSE grades A* to C with 96.2% gaining 5 A* to C grades including English and Maths. Four students achieved A* in 10 or more subjects.
In 2019 the school was inspected and judged 'Good', repeating the outcome of Ofsted inspections in 2016 and 2010. There was a further inspection in December 2024 reiterating the previous rating.
Extracurricular
Volunteering opportunities for students include trips to the Refilwe Community Project in South Africa which the school has been involved in for over 10 years. Students have also been involved with various independent entrepreneurial pursuits.
Students may take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, as well as a variety of enrichment activities and clubs including Fencing, Cooking, Robotics, Classics, Gardening, and 3D Design.
Private music tuition is also available to students, with instrumental, composition and vocal lessons currently taken by approximately 200 students at Calday.
The school is ranked 7th for sporting achievement, with the November 2019 edition of School Sport magazine placing Calday in the top 1% of schools in the country for sporting outcomes.
The school has maintained a Combined Cadet Force since 1916, when a unit of the Officers' Training Corps was first formed.
Notable former students
John Francis Ashby, English rugby player and member of the 1910 British Lions tour to Argentina
Andrew Baddeley, athlete in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics
Daniel Craig, English actor known for his role as James Bond in the 007 films
James Hype, English DJ and record producer
Philip May, banker and husband of former Prime Minister Theresa May
Andy McCluskey, singer/songwriter best known as the lead vocalist for OMD
Sam Quek, British field hockey player, winning Olympic gold in 2016
Dick Uren, England international rugby union player
Peter Venables, psychologist