St Hilda's CE High School

Welcome to St Hilda. As the only co-educational 11-18 Church of England school in Liverpool, St Hilda’s is unique. Our students make St Hilda’s a special place to learn. At St Hilda’s we truly believe that people matter most.

We are a community underpinned by our Christian values and principles. Positive, respectful relationships lead to the success we continue to enjoy. Our core purpose is to inspire our students to embrace learning and develop the skills necessary to be successful in a changing world. Aspirations are high. We believe there is no limit to what St Hilda’s students can achieve.

St Hilda’s students have achieved fantastic GCSE and A Level results. Over half of our students gained at least 1 A* or A grade at GCSE. We are above the national average for maths, English Language and English Literature for the top grade 9. A Level results were also a cause for celebration. We have a 99.9% pass rate and our students have been accepted into the top Russell Group universities.

At St Hilda’s we are a family and we make decisions together. We looked carefully at the values we had already. The Church of England had also looked at their values for education and educating our young people. We adopted the Church of England’s values of education for Wisdom, Hope, Community and Dignity as they fulfilled our own values as a school. First of all we had a PSHE session with all of our students across all year groups where they discussed the suggestion we should adopt the 4 values, but they were asked to think of a 5th value too. Overwhelmingly our students suggested the value of Equality to add to the 4 values. This sums up the students of St Hilda’s. Their acceptance of diversity and valuing individuality reflects the calibre of students and the family in which we live day to day.

St Hilda’s helps young people to develop intellectually and physically, and to identify and develop the skills they need for life. Crucially, we provide a social and spiritual community in which the whole person can be educated.

Modern western education still stands on the foundations laid by ancient monasteries. Our school motto laborare est orare recalls St Benedict’s statement: “work is prayer, and prayer is work”. It sums up the foundation of our school – hard work and prayer. Every school day begins with an act of worship, often led by pupils themselves. Communion services attended by the whole school are held three times a term. One of the highlights of the school year is the annual Carol Service for all pupils and open to families and friends which takes place in Liverpool Cathedral.

Many St Hilda’s pupils already worship in a church when they come to school. Some pupils come from other world faiths, or a non-faith background. St Hilda’s insists that questions of faith have to be treated seriously, and with respect. The school provides a good environment for pupils to explore such matters thoughtfully and come to their own mature personal conviction. Religious Education is taught not simply as an academic subject but in the recognition that for many in school the Christian faith is a personal life commitment.

The curriculum goes beyond the national framework – its emphasis is on high achievement and is designed to offer all pupils the opportunities, challenges and encouragement to reach their full potential. The curriculum embraces all that is learned through school, whether it be in lessons, during collective worship or part of informal learning within and beyond the school day.

Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9) all pupils follow a broad, balanced course of study which includes all subjects within the National Curriculum, including two modern foreign languages.

In Years 10 and 11 pupils prepare for GCSE. Every pupil must study English language, mathematics and science and the majority also take English literature and a modern foreign language. In addition, optional subjects are available. Alongside academic options there are opportunities for pupils to choose a vocational course for the equivalent of one day a week.

St Hilda’s prepares the majority of students for GCE A Levels but, in addition, BTEC subsidiary diplomas are offered. The school offers a broad range of A Level subjects enabling all students to progress on to further study or work in their chosen career paths. As one of the four Sixth Forms that link together to form the Faiths Partnership, we are able to significantly extend the courses we offer to students.