Birkdale High School, Southport
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Birkdale truly lives up to its motto 'A School Where We All Belong'. Teachers are highly skilled at identifying and removing barriers to learning, so every pupil - including those with special needs, those learning English, and young carers - can access the ambitious curriculum and thrive. Pupils consistently achieve well, particularly in core subjects, and benefit from consistently high-quality teaching in calm, respectful lessons.
Key Strengths
- Excellent inclusion and support for vulnerable pupils, those with SEND, and disadvantaged students
- High-quality teaching across all subjects with strong results in English, mathematics and science
- Ambitious, well-planned curriculum regularly reviewed and adapted to meet diverse pupil needs
- Strong leadership focused on pupil wellbeing and staff development
- Warm, welcoming school environment with calm, purposeful lessons and positive relationships
Areas for Improvement
- Need to improve attendance levels, particularly reducing persistent and severe absence
- Achievement of disadvantaged pupils still in line with national averages despite recent support
- Some attendance improvement initiatives not yet showing consistent impact
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Animal club, darts club, wellbeing garden, leadership opportunities, variety of clubs and societies, period X enrichment time
Birkdale High School is a strong school where inclusion is at the heart of everything leaders do. Staff and pupils feel part of a cohesive team working towards all pupils achieving their personal best.
At a Glance
22.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
23.6
Avg class size
34
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
100%
Over capacity
936 pupils
940 capacity
4 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Southport
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Southport
Admissions Demand - Sefton
Places available
3,299
Applications
2,940
Got 1st preference
85.0%
Got preferred school
95.8%
Secondary admissions across Sefton (2025/26)
Inspection History(10)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.70129%
Overall absence
21.73913%
Persistent absence
943
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Birkdale High School
Nearby Schools
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