Secretary of State Visit

Woodchurch High School Church of England Academy has been praised by Education Secretary Michael Gove for its sense of dedication and community spirit. Woodchurch High School was one of four schools across the north west visited by the Education Secretary on Fr iday after being invited by Wirral West MP, Esther McVey. Mr Gove toured the school with staff and governors before meeting with students who grilled him on a number of issues, including the academy’s plans to add a sixth form to its offering. He said he was amazed by the school’s sense of community spirit and said he agreed that Woodchurch was in need of a sixth form. “There are some great sixth form colleges in the area but I do agree that when there’s such a good school here with a real sense of community spirit, it seems a shame that people have to leave the school at 16.” Mr Gove said he was particularly impressed with the school’s farm and allotments and even left the school with half a dozen eggs. After the visit, headteacher Rebekah Phillips told the Globe: “It is a huge compliment to our staff, our governors and to the school community and to our students that Mr Gove should have chosen to come here.” Ms Phillips added: “Our next step at the school is to become a Church of England Academy and then we can focus on providing a sixth form.” On Friday 31st January 2014, school was pleased to be visited by The Secretary of State for Education, the Rt. Hon. Michael Gove MP. This visit was in recognition of the tremendous work that goes on in the school. After meeting representatives of the Governing Body and Senior Leadership Team at school, Mr. Gove, accompanied by Ms. Esther McVey, MP for Wirral West, toured the school building and visited a variety of lessons. On his tour, Mr. Gove observed pupils dissecting hearts in Science, as well as visiting the school farm. He also had the opportunity to meet with a group of children and discuss their school. Ms. Phillips, Headteacher, said ‘This visit was hugely important for the school, as it was a clear vote of confidence in the staff and Governing Body, as well as deserved recognition for the hard work of all our pupils.’