Birkenhead Sixth Form College, Wirral
Birkenhead Sixth Form College is a post-16 school for pupils aged 16 to 19 in Wirral, part of Bepart Educational Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2016)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Birkenhead Sixth Form College in detail
Birkenhead Sixth Form College in its own words
In its own words: "Rated as 'Outstanding' by Ofsted, Birkenhead Sixth Form College is the leading provider of A Level, BTEC and V Level courses for 16-18 year olds in the area."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Choosing where to study after GCSEs is one of the most important decisions a young person will make. At Birkenhead Sixth Form College, we are proud not only of the outstanding results our students achieve, but also of the opportunities, experiences and support that help them become confident, successful young adults."
Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 26 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Wirral
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
The trust
Birkenhead Sixth Form College is one of 2 schools run by Bepart Educational Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 679 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 52% went on to university or other higher education, 6% to apprenticeships and 22% into work. 9% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Birkenhead North Rail Station, about 1060 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Shrewsbury Road (adjacent), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 241 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Wirral (155), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE destination measures; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from December 2016, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Source: Ofsted, further education and skills inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its December 2016 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
0.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Special Measures
Sixth Form Performance (A-Level)
A-Level Results
C+
Average grade
34.1
Points per entry
B-
Best 3 A-Levels
6%
Achieving AAB+
Well above average
Value added
675
A-Level students
89%
Retention rate
2024/25 academic year
A-Level Subjects Offered
+ 9 more subjects
2024/25 academic year - entries by number of students
After A-Levels - Leaver Destinations
After A-Levels (Year 13) - 679 students
2023/24 data
University & Higher Education Destinations
9%
Top-third university
66%
Degree course
69%
Any L4+ destination
1%
Apprenticeships
Based on 651 students completing 16-18 study
2022/23 cohort - "Top-third" = most selective third of UK universities by student intake
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Birkenhead Sixth Form College
An exciting fresh start at one of the country’s best sixth form colleges
21 Aug 2026
College reaches full capacity for September 2026
18 Aug 2026
Reaching new heights - exceptional results for the Class of 2026
13 Aug 2026
High Performers Programme celebrates an outstanding first year of success
21 Jul 2026
Teacher at Birkenhead Sixth Form College crosses the finish line after inspiring 1,000 mile challenge for Maggie's Wirral
15 Jul 2026
Birkenhead Sixth Form College students experience the best of New York through once in a lifetime trip
13 Jul 2026
From Birkenhead Sixth Form College's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Birkenhead Sixth Form College
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 13
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 8 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
3 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 Wirral is 15 (the median across 136 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
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Wirral
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wirral
Across Wirral council
Places available
3,889
Applications
3,305
Got 1st preference
95.3%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All secondary applications across Wirral council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(2)
Further education and skills inspection
Questions parents ask about Birkenhead Sixth Form College
What is Birkenhead Sixth Form College's Ofsted rating?
Birkenhead Sixth Form College's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2016, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Birkenhead Sixth Form College?
No fixed boundary. When Birkenhead Sixth Form College is oversubscribed, Wirral allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to Birkenhead Sixth Form College?
Apply through Wirral's coordinated admissions process, naming Birkenhead Sixth Form College on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Birkenhead Sixth Form College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 13 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 8 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 3 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 Wirral is 15 (the median across 136 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Birkenhead Sixth Form College?
Birkenhead Sixth Form College is at Park Road West, Claughton, Wirral, Merseyside, CH43 8SQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)