Birkenhead Park School, Birkenhead

Ofsted's report card from its 30 June 2026 inspection grades Birkenhead Park School on 6 areas: 3 strong standard and 3 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders' deep understanding of pupils helps them to identify and address barriers to attendance and behaviour swiftly."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Inclusion is central to the school's work."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "The actions that leaders have taken over recent years have led to marked improvements in this school."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils, including those with barriers to their learning or wellbeing, build their knowledge and understanding well through the curriculum."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a curriculum that enables pupils to build knowledge securely over time."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have crafted a personal development programme that is informed by the community they serve."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that highly effective teaching is embedded across all subjects and year groups so that pupils' attainment in national examinations improves further"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils are fully prepared for life in modern Britain, supported by a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental British values, which includes the importance of respecting others who are different to them".

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is a real pleasure to welcome you to The Birkenhead Park School-a school transformed. We are a caring, ambitious and inclusive school where every student is known, valued and encouraged to succeed. Our strong sense of community ensures that students feel safe, happy and proud to belong. Our recent Ofsted inspection recognised the remarkable transformation of our school."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, basketball, drama, cooking, art and Duke of Edinburgh.

In 2026, pupils at Birkenhead Park School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 47.2 in Wirral and 47 across England.

25% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 47% in Wirral and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 39.9.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.55: pupils made well 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 35.4, against 48.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 20 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 132 families put Birkenhead Park School as their first choice and 284 named it as one of their preferences, for 152 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 Birkenhead Park School are St Anselm's College (0.3 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 63.1); Birkenhead High School Academy (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.1); Ridgeway High School (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 37.7); and Prenton High School for Girls (1.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.8).

Birkenhead Park School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Birkenhead Park School is one of 2 schools run by Bepart Educational Trust, an academy trust.

47 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Birkenhead Park School (as of April 2026): 87% would recommend the school, 85% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (87%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (67%).

Of the 122 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 74% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 48% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

69.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 186 pupils (25.4%) received SEN support and 38 (5.2%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Birkenhead Park Rail Station, about 790 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Hugh's Close (opposite), 80 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Birkenhead Park School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 5th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 473 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Wirral (155), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Birkenhead Park School issued 182 suspensions, 23.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 7 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Birkenhead Park School are The Priory Parish CofE Primary School (0.5 miles), Birkenhead Christ Church CofE Primary School (0.6 miles), St Werburgh's Catholic Primary School (0.6 miles) and Our Lady and St Edward's Catholic Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.