Birkdale Primary School, Southport
Birkdale Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Southport. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 15th-highest of the 19 schools in Southport with published results, and 12,253rd of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 104% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Sefton (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Birkdale Primary School in detail
Birkdale Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a busy and friendly school, with lots going on. Thank you for visiting! Mr Sheeran, Head Teacher"
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils at Birkdale Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Sefton and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 81% in reading and 76% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Birkdale Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 35 families put Birkdale Primary School as their first choice and 108 named it as one of their preferences, for 37 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Birkdale Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Birkdale Primary School are Linaker Primary School (0.4 miles); Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School (0.8 miles, 82% reading, 73% maths); St Philip's Church of England Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 87% reading, 87% maths); and Farnborough Road Junior School (1.1 miles, Good, 80% reading, 84% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Birkdale Primary School.
Linaker Primary SchoolOur Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary SchoolSt Philip's Church of England Primary SchoolFarnborough Road Junior School
Who goes there
7.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (85%) and Asian (6%).
In 2026, 70 pupils (16.3%) received SEN support and 11 (2.6%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Birkdale Rail Station, about 640 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Viking Close (opposite), 60 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Birkdale Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Birkdale Primary School are Christ The King Catholic High School and Sixth Form Centre (0.4 miles), Greenbank High School (1.1 miles), Meols Cop High School (1.4 miles) and Birkdale High School (1.6 miles).
Christ The King Catholic High School and Sixth Form CentreGreenbank High SchoolMeols Cop High SchoolBirkdale High School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Sefton published that the last place for 2022 entry went to a family 1.029 miles away (straight line). The cut-off moves every year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from March 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its March 2014 inspection - down from Outstanding.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
22.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 81% to 60% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 76% to 67% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 71% to 42% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.7
Avg class size
27.3
Infant (KS1)
29.6
KS2
15
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Birkdale Primary School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Birkdale Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Birkdale Primary School is in Sefton; for families living there:
- Sefton's school travel policy: Home to School Transport Policy ext
- How to apply: Apply for Travel Support
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 20
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 2 serious and 17 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Sefton is 16 (the median across 116 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Birkdale Primary School
Will you get a place at Birkdale Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Birkdale Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Birkdale Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Birkdale Primary School.
- Last distance offered for 2022 entry, from Sefton's own figures, and how your distance compares each year.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Birkdale Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Sefton got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
104%
Over capacity
410 pupils
394 places
16 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Southport
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Southport
Across Sefton council
Places available
3,080
Applications
2,586
Got 1st preference
91.4%
Got preferred school
98.6%
All primary applications across Sefton council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
70
SEN Support
11
EHC Plans
18.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
430
Total Pupils
217
Boys
213
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
19
Teachers
22.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,046
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,195
Per pupil
£2382k
Total funding
£133k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.2%
Overall absence
17.1%
Persistent absence
363
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Questions parents ask about Birkdale Primary School
What are SATs results like at Birkdale Primary School?
Of the pupils at Birkdale Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 60% reached the expected standard in reading and 67% did so in maths.
What is Birkdale Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Birkdale Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2014, it was rated Good.
How close to Birkdale Primary School do you need to live?
Sefton published for September 2022 entry that the last place offered at Birkdale Primary School on distance went to a family 1.029 miles away. This is the authority's own figure for one year, not a fixed boundary - the cut-off moves with the number of applications, so treat it as a guide rather than a guarantee.
Is it hard to get a place at Birkdale Primary School?
Birkdale Primary School was full in 2025, at 104% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Birkdale Primary School?
Classes at Birkdale Primary School average 28.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Birkdale Primary School?
Birkdale Primary School has around 430 pupils on roll. 23% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Birkdale Primary School?
6.2% of sessions were missed at Birkdale Primary School in 2024/25. 17.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Birkdale Primary School?
Apply through Sefton's coordinated admissions process, naming Birkdale Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Birkdale Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 2 serious and 17 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Sefton is 16 (the median across 116 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Birkdale Primary School?
Birkdale Primary School is at Matlock Road, Birkdale, Southport, Merseyside, PR8 4EL.
Sources: Sefton admissions booklet; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)