Birkenhead School Holiday Courses

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scatshouse
Posts: 438
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:00 am

Birkenhead School Holiday Courses

Post by scatshouse »

Hi,

Does anybody have any experience of the holiday courses run at Birkenhead School?

My children are booked in for next week and although my son is extremely sporty and I think will enjoy himself immensely, my daughter is less so and I am worried that she will not enjoy it. She didn't want to be split from her brother the first time there so chose to attend the same course (Sports and climbing). Are there other things for her to do if she decided this was not for her?

I would be grateful for any feedback on these courses.
Thanks
Scatshouse.
NotionPotion
Posts: 202
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2007 4:52 pm

Post by NotionPotion »

Hi Scatshouse, (we just can't keep away from this site!)

I'm not very good at showing links but if you go on the Birkenhead school website and do a site search quoting "courses" then it reveals a 'Holiday Couses' link which shows all the different types of courses available.
My daughter has attended summer courses at the boys school before but it was when she was much younger but she did enjoy it! As you will know they have wonderful grounds and facilities and the courses are really well run,
My DD has tended to go for Birkenhead High school 'Topspin' holiday club which is more 'clubby' but the children can chose from a variety of things to do, mostly sporty (swimming also) but some dance and craft but I would say their maximum age level is probably about 11. I think there is more to do for the over 11s at the boys school though-and the courses are more specialised.
Hope they have fun!
scatshouse
Posts: 438
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:00 am

Post by scatshouse »

Hi NotionPotion, (I'm never away from this site! :D ),

Thanks, I've already printed off a copy of the holiday course brochure, (and I wonder where all the ink goes :roll: ), but the only courses running for their age group for next week were sports with skiing, which was full, and sports with climbing which we've booked. There was a deportment course which my daughter got really excited about but you had to be at least 14 for that one :( .

The lady I spoke to at the school said there would be a drama and dance option which is not mentioned in the brochure, but at the moment my daughter wants to be with her brother on the climbing wall :shock: , even though she is terrified of heights and is not interested in football, rugby, cricket etc.

I'm hoping, once she gets to know other people there, that she will find something for herself and was wondering if this is a possibility.

Scatshouse.
wirralnumbers
Posts: 56
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:30 am

Post by wirralnumbers »

Yes we are world experts in both the Birkenhead School and Topspin holiday weeks!

Generally Birkenhead School operates more than one course per age group in any week-and generally a mixture of "girl biased" and "boy biased" ones. We have always found them very friendly and well organised. I am sure it would be possible to switch courses if it wasn't working. Again I would have a look at the website to see which courses are on in a particular week.

http://birkenheadschool.co.uk/about/hol ... /index.htm

Topspin is also very popular although I would agree it tends to cater mainly for primary school age. It differs in that rather than children having a theme for the week sports, drama etc the children mix and match as suits them on a particular day-in other words Monday swimming followed by drama, Tuesday cricket followed by tennis etc. Again very good.

If your children are into music,dance, drama another one we recommend is High Horizons in New Brighton.

http://highhorizons.co.uk/
wirralnumbers
Posts: 56
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:30 am

Post by wirralnumbers »

Hi scatshouse. Looking at the particular course for next week

Young Adventurers (Boys and girls (8 - 15yrs) Sports & Activity Week with Climbing

It's quite a wide age range so I imagine they will split it into

Older and Keen
Older and not so Keen
Younger and Keen
Younger and not so Keen
!!
NotionPotion
Posts: 202
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2007 4:52 pm

Post by NotionPotion »

Hiya Scatshouse,
My DD is also not very good with heights so when she was recently invited to a climbing party at the Boys School she was quite worried (and I was worried about her being worried etc .....).
Anyway I was delighted when I picked her up that she has really enjoyed it and had not felt pressured to do more than she was comfortable with. She was given lots of kind encouragement which improved her confidence too.
So your DD might actually enjoy it more than you/she thinks. Either way the staff are all lovely and will want her to feel happy with what she is doing.
scatshouse
Posts: 438
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:00 am

Post by scatshouse »

Hi NotionPotion and wirralnumbers,

Thanks for your replies.

It's good to hear that the staff are nice.

wirralnumbers I suspect I've got 1 Older Not so Keen and 1 Younger and Keen :D. Maybe they won't be in the same group anyway. My daughter is quite shy in new situations but I'm hoping she will meet other girls and will plump for the dance and drama option when they get there, which I know she would enjoy.

I was hoping to take them along for a look around yesterday as it was my day off, but that idea went out the window when son disappeared to a playscheme and daughter stayed in bed all morning :roll:. Anyway I'm sure they'll enjoy themselves and I'll be quite glad the skiing course was booked up if the weather stays like this, at least the climbing wall is indoors.

Scatshouse.
NotionPotion
Posts: 202
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2007 4:52 pm

Post by NotionPotion »

Hi Scatshouse,
How did they get on?
scatshouse
Posts: 438
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:00 am

Post by scatshouse »

Hi NotionPotion,

Well it would seem that I underestimated my daughter and that as well as 1 Younger and Keen I also had 1 Older and very keen by the end of the week :shock: Although she had a few wobbles on the climbing wall and begged to get down she did have a go, but she absolutely loved the hockey, football and tag rugby. Oh! and I think a certain older boy :roll:.

They weren't so impressed with the food or the prices in the tuck shop though. A pound for a drink :shock: .

They can't wait for Whit week and are already planning with their new found friends which activities they will sign up for.

Scatshouse.
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