Co-op Academy Oldershaw, Wallasey

In its own words: "I am delighted to be Executive Headteacher at Co-op Academy Oldershaw. At Co-op Academy Oldershawwe aim to provide a learning environment that will enable all students to develop and become the best possible versions of themselves. We want all who attend, to become well rounded confident individuals who are well prepared for the next stages in their development."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is a pleasure to welcome you to Co-op Academy Oldershaw. I am privileged to be the Head of School and take pride in all that we aim to achieve as a school community. The school is steeped in history, but is very much a forward-facing establishment, with engaging and dynamic learning experiences for all."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include drama and STEM.

In 2025, pupils at Co-op Academy Oldershaw averaged an Attainment 8 score of 28, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 47.4 in Wirral and 46.8 across England.

12% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 47% in Wirral and 46% in England.

That is in line with 2024, when the score was 27.9.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -1.24: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2025.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 23.5, against 32.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 9.3 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 82 families put Co-op Academy Oldershaw as their first choice and 186 named it as one of their preferences, for 102 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places, so in 2026 a family who put it first could expect an offer unless the school's other criteria ruled them out.

First-choice demand has fallen from 180 in 2021 to 82 in 2026, while places went from 157 to 102.

Across Wirral, 95% of families were offered their first-choice secondary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2025, families in Wirral lodged 587 appeals against secondary school offers; 477 reached a hearing and 107 succeeded (22.4% of those heard).

The nearest other state secondary schools to Co-op Academy Oldershaw are St Mary's Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy (0.6 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 33.2); Weatherhead High School (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.9); The Mosslands School (0.7 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 35.2); and Birkenhead Park School (2.2 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 39.9).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Co-op Academy Oldershaw.

Co-op Academy Oldershaw is one of 40 schools run by The Co-Operative Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39.7 in 2023/24, with a Progress 8 score of -0.34 (zero is the national average).

14 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Co-op Academy Oldershaw (as of September 2025): 29% would recommend the school, 43% say their child is happy there and 25% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (43%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (14%).

Of the 167 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2022/23, 77% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 32% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

Of the 36 students who left the sixth form in 2022/23, 25% went on to university or other higher education, 11% to apprenticeships and 19% into work.

61.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals (the average state school: 24.5%), and 2.5% speak English as an additional language (average: 18.5%), according to the 2025 school census.

In 2025, 225 pupils (27.3%) received SEN support and 76 (9.2%) had an education, health and care plan, against 15.6% and 3.9% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs. The school has resourced provision for pupils with particular needs.

Co-op Academy Oldershaw employed 56 teachers in 2024, roughly one for every 15 pupils. Their average salary was £46,905.

Its 2026 funding allocation works out at £8,271 per pupil (£7.4 million in total), including £516,000 of pupil premium for disadvantaged pupils.

The nearest railway station is Wallasey Village Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away.

15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Meadway (opposite), 220 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Co-op Academy Oldershaw stands in is among the 40% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 6th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 290 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 (154), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2023/24, Co-op Academy Oldershaw issued 224 suspensions, 24.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 2.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Co-op Academy Oldershaw are St Alban's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.3 miles); Mount Primary School (0.5 miles); St George's Primary School (0.5 miles); and Park Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.