Birchwood Community High School, Warrington

In its own words: "Team Birchwood believes in the power of aspiration, knowledge and kindness. We know that we achieve our best when we work together. High expectations, high aspirations and high achievement rely upon a positive working environment based upon respect. For us, respect means unconditional positive regard for everyone in our learning community."

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am absolutely delighted and privileged to be the Headteacher of Birchwood Community High School. As a school, we understand young people only get one chance to experience school-life and our aim is very simple: to support them to grow into confident and independent students with high aspirations, a love of learning and strong community values."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include choir, ukulele, sewing and maths club.

In 2026, pupils at Birchwood Community High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 47.7 in Warrington and 47 across England.

44% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 48% in Warrington and 47% in England.

That is down from 47.9 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.37: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 40.1, against 49.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 9.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Statistics, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 168 families put Birchwood Community High School as their first choice and 355 named it as one of their preferences, for 180 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Birchwood Community High School are King's Leadership Academy Warrington (1.1 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 55.4); Padgate Academy (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.6); Cardinal Newman Catholic High School (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.1); and Beamont Collegiate Academy (2.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.9).

Birchwood Community High School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Birchwood Community High School is one of 8 schools run by One Community Trust, an academy trust.

56 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Birchwood Community High School (as of September 2025): 79% would recommend the school, 73% say their child is happy there and 88% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (88%); the weakest, that they are kept well informed about progress (64%).

Of the 161 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 83% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 40% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.

Of the 49 students who left the sixth form in 2022/23, 27% went on to university or other higher education, 16% to apprenticeships and 39% into work.

41.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 12.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 179 pupils (20.5%) received SEN support and 55 (6.3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

Birchwood Community High School has a resourced provision: 16 places, 16 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Birchwood Rail Station, about 530 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Library (outside), 90 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Birchwood Community High School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 59 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Warrington (96).

In 2024/25, Birchwood Community High School issued 146 suspensions, 16.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Birchwood Community High School are Locking Stumps Community Primary School (0.5 miles), Birchwood CofE Primary School (0.6 miles), Woolston CofE Aided Primary School (1 mile) and St Peter's Catholic Primary School (1.1 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.