Birkdale School

The Birkdale family of schools educates around 870 pupils from ages 3 to 18, across the Birkdale and S. Anselm’s sites. Birkdale’s mission is to deliver a strong academic education through outstanding individualised teaching, inspiring all pupils to achieve their personal best. All of this is underpinned by a strong Christian ethos, where everyone is treated with care and respect.

The School has three sites in south-west Sheffield: the 11-18 (Y7 to Y13) Senior School, the 4-11 (Reception to Y6) Prep School, and extensive playing fields and facilities at Castle Dyke on the edge of the Peak District National Park. In September 2023, S. Anselm’s, a 3-13 boarding and day prep school in Bakewell, joined the Birkdale family.  S. Anselm’s feeds pupils into Birkdale Senior at Y9, as well as preparing others for Common Entrance to national public schools.

Birkdale Senior School has educated girls in its Sixth Form for 30 years but in September 2020 started the transition to being a co-educational school, taking girls from PP1 (Reception) to P1 (Y3). In September 2024, girls joined the Senior School, which will therefore be fully co-ed from September 2028.

The new Head will share the Board’s commitment to the ethos that underpins the School. The next Head of Birkdale will not only lead Birkdale Senior School and its ongoing transition to full co-education, but will also oversee Birkdale Prep and S. Anselm’s through collaborative partnerships with each of their Heads.

The Head will work with Governors and the Schools’ leadership teams, bringing initiative and ideas to develop further the vision for Birkdale to ensure that the family of schools is delivering an outstanding academic offering for girls and boys aged 3 to 19, which is underpinned by a Christian ethos and holistic approach to education.

The successful candidate will be a committed Christian who is supportive of, and able to contribute to the Governors’ vision, as required by the School’s founding documents.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to Birkdale School on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference TATKB. Alternatively email Belinda.beck@saxbam.com. Applications should be received by 9am Thursday 24th October.