Birkenhead High School Academy

Wirral · CH43 1TY

General information All-through School · 3-19 years Who goes here 1226 pupils, 19.9% FSM

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 16.5% on SEN support Behaviour 6.9% absence rate Staff 9% turnover Financials £6,653 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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Birkenhead High School Academy

General Information

Address: 86 Devonshire Place, Prenton, CH43 1TY – View on map
Phone: 01516525777
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Mrs Elizabeth de Boorder
Age range: 3-19 years
Demand for places (Year 7, September 2026): 163 families put it first for 116 places – 14 for every 10 places. 68% of them were offered a place. No places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2023 13 · 2024 13 · 2025 14 · 2026 14
Demand for places (Reception, September 2026): 67 families put it first for 56 places – 12 for every 10 places. 82% of them were offered a place. No places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2023 9 · 2024 10 · 2025 11 · 2026 12
Sixth form: Yes
Intake: Girls
Religious character: Does not apply
Nursery provision: Yes

Who goes here

1226 pupils out of 1293 places At or near capacity

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 213
% eligible for free school meals: 19.9%
Pupil mix: 4 in 10 (more mixed than the Wirral average)
English as an additional language: 8% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 9% a year (Wirral 13.4%, typical in England 15.5%) Low turnover
Where they went: about 27% moved to another school, 73% left state schools altogether (retirement, other careers, independent schools, abroad)
Data years: 2022/23 to 2024/25 (average of 3 years, DfE school workforce census)

Teachers who moved school or left state schools in the year after each November, as a share of all the school's teachers. Some turnover is healthy – retirements, promotions, moving house. "Low turnover" means it's among the quarter of similar schools in England where teachers are most likely to stay.

Behaviour

Awaiting Data

About this Behaviour status

We've asked this school for real behaviour figures under Freedom of Information and haven't had a response yet.

Across Wirral: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 35 (1.6 per 1,000 pupils; England 1.7)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 0
Suspensions for bullying: 22 (1.0 per 1,000 pupils; England 1.9)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 10 (0.5 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.8)
Data year: 2024/25 (DfE suspensions and exclusions statistics)

These are figures for all state secondary schools in Wirral, not this school's own – the government doesn't publish them school by school. A suspension can have up to three reasons. Most sexual harassment between pupils never leads to a suspension, so these figures show only part of the picture.

Attendance

Overall absence: 6.9%
Persistently absent pupils: 16.6%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

No dedicated Unit or Resourced Provision

SEN Unit and Resourced Provision

Most mainstream schools don't have a dedicated SEN Unit or Resourced Provision - it isn't a mark against a school that doesn't, just a different kind of setup than one that does.

Pupils on SEN Support: 16.5%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 5.4%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need: 64 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 41 pupils
Specific learning difficulty: 32 pupils
Speech, language and communications needs: 25 pupils
Hearing impairment: 10 pupils

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Speech, language and communications needs: 18 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 16 pupils
Specific learning difficulty: 14 pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder: 5 pupils
Physical disability: 4 pupils

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

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Behaviour

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Openness

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Teaching Quality

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School Ethos

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Ability to Deal with Problems

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Headteacher Approval

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SafeguardingSafeguarding (parent rating)How parents rate the school on keeping children safe - how safe their child feels, and how well concerns are listened to and acted on. It's parents' experience, not an inspection result; Ofsted checks safeguarding separately.

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Wraparound CareWraparound Care (parent rating)How parents rate the school's breakfast and after-school clubs - availability, cost and quality. Only asked for infant, junior and primary schools, where it matters most for working parents.

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Would recommend –

Educational Attainment

Good 2023 report

About this Ofsted rating

Ofsted changed how it rates schools in the last couple of years, so ratings from different years aren't always on the same scale - that's why we show the year alongside every rating.

SecondaryGCSE results, Year 11

Attainment 8 score: 50.5
Compared with the area: 3.7 points above the Wirral average (46.8)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: Above (+3.3 points against an expected 47.2)
Grade 4+ in English and maths: 71% (Wirral 64%, England 65%) Broadly steady
Data year: 2024/25

View the School Context Comparator – how this school's results compare with schools teaching similar pupils.

GCSE results over time

This schoolWirral averageEngland→ Broadly steady No clear rise or fall since 2022/23 (changes this small are normal from one year group to the next). In 2024/25 this school was 3.7 points above the Wirral average (46.8).

About the Attainment 8 score

Attainment 8 measures a pupil's average result across 8 GCSE-equivalent qualifications (English and maths count double). It shows how pupils performed, not how much progress they made getting there - a school with a higher score doesn't necessarily add more value, since pupils often arrive with different starting points. Progress 8 is the measure designed to account for that, but it currently can't be calculated for any school for the two most recent academic years, due to a nationwide gap in the data caused by COVID-19 disruption to Key Stage 2 testing.

7th of 19 all-through schools in Wirral for Attainment 8

#5Wirral Grammar School for Boys65.4
#6St Anselm's College57.2
#7Birkenhead High School Academy50.5
#8Pensby High School44.8
#9Weatherhead High School41.9

Click to see the full ranking

Attainment 8 ranking

Illustrative MVP scores - not based on verified data yet.

Rank School Score

#1West Kirby Grammar School71.3
#2Wirral Grammar School for Girls69.3
#3Calday Grange Grammar School68.1
#4Upton Hall School FCJ65.6
#5Wirral Grammar School for Boys65.4
#6St Anselm's College57.2
#7Birkenhead High School Academy50.5
#8Pensby High School44.8
#9Weatherhead High School41.9
#10Birkenhead Park School39.9
#11Ridgeway High School39.2
#12Hilbre High School39.0
#13Prenton High School for Girls38.9
#14Woodchurch High School37.9
#15Co-op Academy Bebington37.3
#16St John Plessington Catholic College37.2
#17The Mosslands School35.2
#18St Mary's Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy33.2
#19The Oldershaw School28.0

Leaver Destinations

In education, employment, or training a year later: 95.0%
Went into further education: 92.0%
Data year: 2024/25

About leaver destinations

This shows where a school's Year 11 leavers were recorded the following year - in a "sustained" destination means in education, an apprenticeship, or employment for at least 6 months, not just enrolled briefly. It's a different picture from exam results alone, and can highlight schools that support pupils well beyond just their GCSE grades.

GCSE Subjects Offered

Maths (General)
English Language
English Literature
Science Double Award
Geography
History
Business Studies
Art & Design
Media Studies
Spanish
D & T
French Language
Speech & Drama
Biology
Chemistry (General)
Physics (General)
Religious Studies
Sports Studies
Computer Science
Dance: General
Music Studies (General)
Chinese
Italian
Psychology (General)
German
Statistics
Bengali

About this subject list

This isn't the school's own description of its curriculum - it's real DfE exam entry data, showing which GCSE subjects this school's pupils were actually entered for in 2024/25. A subject not appearing here may still be taught but had no pupils entered that year, so treat this as a helpful guide rather than a complete guarantee - it's worth confirming directly with the school for the year your child would actually study.

PrimaryYear 6 SATs results

Year 6 SATs results

Met the expected standard in reading, writing & maths: 61% (England 62%)
Reached the higher standard: 0% (England 8%)
Compared with the area: 3 percentage points above the Wirral average (58%)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: As expected (3-year average 66% against an expected 63%)
3-year average (expected standard): 66%
Expected standard by subject: Reading 70% · Writing 70% · Maths 73% · Grammar, punctuation & spelling 75%
Average test scores: reading 105, maths 103
Based on: 56 Year 6 pupils, 2024/25

View the School Context Comparator – how this school's SATs results compare with schools teaching similar pupils.

SATs results over time

This schoolWirral averageEngland↘ Falling Down 5 percentage points since 2022/23. In 2024/25 this school was 3 percentage points above the Wirral average (58%).

Year 6 SATs: joint 28th of 75 junior and primary schools in the area

=26Higher Bebington Junior School64%
=26St George's Primary School64%
=28Birkenhead High School Academy61%
=28St Anne's Catholic Primary School61%
=28St Michael and All Angels Catholic Primary School61%

Click to see the full ranking

Year 6 SATs ranking

Junior and primary schools in this area, ranked by the % of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (official DfE results, 2024/25). Schools with the same result share a place (shown as =). In small schools one or two children can move a school several places, so treat close positions as roughly equal.

Rank School Score

#1Thornton Hough Primary School100%
#2Our Lady of Pity Catholic Primary and Nursery School86%
#3Brackenwood Junior School85%
=4Mersey Park Primary School83%
=4Poulton Lancelyn Primary School83%
=4Thurstaston Dawpool CofE Primary School83%
=7Barnston Primary School82%
=7Gayton Primary School82%
#9West Kirby Primary School81%
#10Thingwall Primary School79%
#11Great Meols Primary School75%
#12Holy Cross Catholic Primary School73%
=13Greasby Junior School70%
=13Heswall St Peter's CofE Primary School70%
=13Irby Primary School70%
=13Townfield Primary School70%
=17Brookdale Primary School69%
=17Church Drive Primary School69%
=19Heswall Primary School68%
=19Liscard Primary School68%
=19St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Birkenhead68%
=22Christ The King Catholic Primary School67%
=22Ladymount Catholic Primary School67%
=22Woodchurch Road Academy67%
#25Heygarth Primary School65%
=26Higher Bebington Junior School64%
=26St George's Primary School64%
=28Birkenhead High School Academy61%
=28St Anne's Catholic Primary School61%
=28St Michael and All Angels Catholic Primary School61%
#31Lingham Primary School60%
#32New Brighton Primary School58%
#33St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wallasey57%
=34Birkenhead Christ Church CofE Primary School56%
=34Manor Primary School56%
=34Mount Primary School56%
=34Overchurch Junior School56%
=34Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School56%
=34Somerville Primary School56%
#40St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Upton55%
=41Leasowe Primary School53%
=41Park Primary School53%
=41Prenton Primary School53%
=41St Paul's Catholic Primary School53%
=41Woodlands Primary School53%
=46Egremont Primary School52%
=46Moreton Christ Church CofE Primary School52%
=46Stanton Road Primary School52%
=49Chapelhill Primary School50%
=49Pensby Primary School50%
=49Raeburn Primary School50%
=52Co-op Academy Hillside48%
=52St Peter's Catholic Primary School48%
#54Devonshire Park Primary School47%
#55The Priory Parish CofE Primary School46%
=56Co-op Academy Portland45%
=56St John's Catholic Junior School45%
=58Black Horse Hill Junior School44%
=58Greenleas Primary School44%
=58St Werburgh's Catholic Primary School44%
=61Millfields Church of England (Controlled) Primary School43%
=61Riverside Primary School43%
=63Co-op Academy Woodslee41%
=63Fender Primary School41%
=63Holy Spirit Catholic and Church of England Primary School41%
=63Mendell Primary School41%
#67Bedford Drive Primary School38%
#68Kingsway Primary School37%
#69Our Lady and St Edward's Catholic Primary School36%
#70Castleway Primary School33%
#71Grove Street Primary School30%
#72Rock Ferry Primary School28%
#73Bidston Village CofE (Controlled) Primary School27%
#74Cathcart Street Primary School26%
#75Eastway Primary School21%

View full Ofsted inspection report

3rd of 17 all-through schools in Wirral for Ofsted rating

#1Upton Hall School FCJOutstanding
#2Wirral Grammar School for GirlsOutstanding
#3Birkenhead High School AcademyGood
#4Calday Grange Grammar SchoolGood
#5Co-op Academy BebingtonGood

Click to see the full ranking

Ofsted Rating ranking

Based on real Ofsted ratings (via official DfE data) for schools on the same four-word grading scale.

Rank School Score

#1Upton Hall School FCJOutstanding
#2Wirral Grammar School for GirlsOutstanding
#3Birkenhead High School AcademyGood
#4Calday Grange Grammar SchoolGood
#5Co-op Academy BebingtonGood
#6Pensby High SchoolGood
#7Prenton High School for GirlsGood
#8Ridgeway High SchoolGood
#9South Wirral High SchoolGood
#10St Anselm's CollegeGood
#11St John Plessington Catholic CollegeGood
#12Weatherhead High SchoolGood
#13West Kirby Grammar SchoolGood
#14Wirral Grammar School for BoysGood
#15Woodchurch High SchoolGood
#16Birkenhead Park SchoolRequires improvement
#17The Mosslands SchoolRequires improvement

Financials

Spending per pupil: £6,653 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

18th of 20 all-through schools in Wirral for spending per pupil

#16Wirral Grammar School for Boys£6,834
#17West Kirby Grammar School£6,668
#18Birkenhead High School Academy£6,653
#19South Wirral High School£3,482
#20St Anselm's College£1,492

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

Rank School Score

#1Ridgeway High School£10,050
#2The Oldershaw School£9,742
#3Woodchurch High School£9,739
#4The Mosslands School£9,642
#5St Mary's Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy£9,342
#6Birkenhead Park School£9,129
#7Weatherhead High School£8,414
#8St John Plessington Catholic College£8,353
#9Hilbre High School£8,239
#10Co-op Academy Bebington£8,148
#11Prenton High School for Girls£8,140
#12Calday Grange Grammar School£7,663
#13Pensby High School£7,277
#14Upton Hall School FCJ£7,200
#15Wirral Grammar School for Girls£7,088
#16Wirral Grammar School for Boys£6,834
#17West Kirby Grammar School£6,668
#18Birkenhead High School Academy£6,653
#19South Wirral High School£3,482
#20St Anselm's College£1,492

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)

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General Information

Who goes here

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Behaviour

Across Wirral: suspensions by reason

Attendance

SEN

Most common needs - SEN Support

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Educational Attainment

Attainment 8 ranking

Leaver Destinations ?

GCSE Subjects Offered ?

Year 6 SATs ranking

Ofsted Rating ranking

Financials

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Leaver Destinations

GCSE Subjects Offered