Schools by area › Sefton › Birkdale High School
Birkdale High School
Secondary · Boys · Ages 11–16 · Academy
Windy Harbour Road, Birkdale, Southport PR8 3DT · birkdalehigh.co.uk · 01704 577253
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Apr 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 51.9
- average Attainment 8 score. Sefton 42.9, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 936
- 100% of 940 places
- Local authority
- Sefton
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 22.2%
- First language not English
- 12.9%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 188 families put the school first and 190 places were offered; 98% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 190 | 188 | 1 | 98% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 184 | 198 | 1.1▲ | 89% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 183 | 184 | 1▲ | 96% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 188 | 184 | 1 | 92% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 176 | 183 | 1▲ | 90% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 51.9, and 57.4% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Sefton it was 42.9, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲51.9 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲57.4% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲74.4% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲77.8% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.90 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 1.7 | −2.8 |
| Sixth form college | 1.7 | +0.4 |
| Further education | 80.4 | −8.8 |
| Other education | 1.1 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 2.8 | +0.9 |
| Employment | 2.2 | +1.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.5 | +2 |
| Activity not captured | 5.6 | — |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Birkdale High School on 14 April 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Strong standard
- Leadership and governance: Strong standard
- Inspected
- 14 Apr 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Strong standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Strong standard |
| Leadership and governance | Strong standard |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Jun 2022
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Jun 2022Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Oct 2017Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Nov 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Dec 2011Inadequate
Outcomes for pupils Inadequate Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate Leadership and management Inadequate
What parents said
93% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (134 replies, to 2 April 2023).
- Recommend
- 93%
- Replies
- 134
- 16% · 2 Apr 2023
based on the 72% who raised concerns
based on the 26% who had a child bullied
based on 25 parents (19%) with SEND