Co-op Academy Portland, Birkenhead
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Co-op Academy Portland is a caring, inclusive community where all pupils are expected to succeed. The school has built a strong curriculum focused on reading and wider knowledge, supported by enriching experiences like visits and community activities. Staff work hard to support vulnerable pupils and families, with many parents praising the school's community hub.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on reading with an effective phonics programme and a tangible love of reading across the school
- Excellent curriculum that engages and motivates pupils, with clear expectations for all including those with SEND
- Impressive personal development programme with enriching activities like theatre visits, museum trips, and community service
- Effective support for pupils with additional needs through partnership with external agencies
- Strong school culture with improved attendance and well-managed pupil behaviour
Areas for Improvement
- Assessment strategies in some subjects are not used consistently to check what pupils have remembered, leaving knowledge gaps
- Some pupils lack secure basic writing skills including spelling, punctuation and handwriting, making written tasks difficult
- Not all pupils make strong connections between current and previous learning in some subjects like mathematics
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Theatre visits, museum trips, choir, sports opportunities, school parliament, eco-group, beach litter picks, visits to local residential homes, before- and after-school club
Co-op Academy Portland is a welcoming primary school where pupils enjoy learning and feel safe. The school has made significant improvements since its previous inspection, with a stronger curriculum now in place, though 2024 results were affected by pupil mobility and previous curriculum weaknesses.
At a Glance
42.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
37 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 46% to 55%. Maths has improved from 33% to 60%. Writing has remained stable at around 65%.
Class Sizes
25.3
Avg class size
25.7
Infant (KS1)
25.0
KS2
8
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
108%
Over capacity
227 pupils
210 capacity
17 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Birkenhead
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Birkenhead
Admissions Demand - Wirral
Places available
3,860
Applications
2,952
Got 1st preference
96.0%
Got preferred school
99.1%
Primary admissions across Wirral (2025/26)
Inspection History(3)
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
6.02298%
Overall absence
16.09195%
Persistent absence
174
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Co-op Academy Portland
Wirral Hospitals' School
Kilgarth School
St Anselm's College
Birkenhead Park School
Birkenhead High School Academy
Birkenhead School
Weatherhead High School
The Observatory School
Progress Schools - Wirral
IMPACT Northwest Schools
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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