Hilbre High School, Wirral

Secondary
Academy converter
Mixed
Ages 1118

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~2.0km)Possible (~2.9km)Unlikely (~3.8km)Confidence: medium

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Headteacher John Barlow
Pupils:1,154 / 1,160 capacity
LA:Wirral
Phone:01516255996
Address:Frankby Road, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 6EQ
Trust:OAK TREES MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open
Opened:1 July 2012

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 6 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Needs Attention
Behaviour
Needs Attention
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Needs Attention
Inspected 24 March 2026View full report
URN:138355
UKPRN:10037596
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Wirral West
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Hilbre High School prioritises pupil wellbeing and provides a supportive environment where pupils feel safe and have trusted adults to turn to. The school offers a wide range of clubs, sports, and visits to broaden pupils' experiences, with particular support for disadvantaged pupils. Leaders have made positive changes to school culture and behaviour expectations, creating a more orderly and inclusive learning environment.

Key Strengths

  • Safeguarding is effective with an open culture where concerns are actively identified and managed
  • School provides broad range of academic and vocational subjects with many extra-curricular opportunities
  • Leaders have improved school culture, expectations for behaviour, and support for staff wellbeing
  • Personal and mental health support is effective with pastoral systems in place
  • Positive relationships between pupils and teachers create a safe, supportive environment

Areas for Improvement

  • Pupils' results remain below national averages, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
  • Overall attendance is below national average, with inconsistent improvement for vulnerable pupils
  • Teaching quality is inconsistent in some subjects, with some teachers lacking secure subject knowledge
  • Reading support for older pupils and handwriting development are underdeveloped
  • Behaviour policies are not applied consistently, leading to poor behaviour at social times and lesson changeovers

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are kept safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Clubs, sports, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, visits to art galleries and museums, STEM centre visits, careers fairs, work placements, university visits

Hilbre High School is a secondary school in West Kirby, Wirral, that has undergone significant leadership changes in recent years. The school is working to improve pupil achievement, attendance, and behaviour, with some early positive progress evident.

At a Glance

30.6%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty, VI - Visual Impairment, HI - Hearing Impairment, SLCN - Speech, language and Communication

SEN Provision

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

17.0

Avg class size

46

Total classes

1 class with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Hilbre High School (W-bound)
56m · 1 min walk
Wirral Mount (opp)
87m · 1 min walk
Fulton Avenue (adj)
198m · 3 min walk
Woodland Road (adj)
286m · 5 min walk
Ennisdale Drive (E-bound)
386m · 6 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

99%

Near capacity

1,154 pupils

1,160 capacity

6 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Wirral

Low pressure
New homes approved:1,768
Projected new pupils:318

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Wirral

Admissions Demand - Wirral

Low demand0.86x oversubscription

Places available

3,974

Applications

3,417

Got 1st preference

95.1%

Got preferred school

99.2%

Secondary admissions across Wirral (2025/26)

Inspection History(6)

24 March 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
12 October 2021
21 June 2016
Leadership & ManagementGood

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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.

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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.

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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.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

9.84496%

Overall absence

27.37864%

Persistent absence

1,030

Enrolments

Authorised7.45388%
Unauthorised2.39109%
Persistent (10%+)27.37864%
Severe (50%+)4.46602%

Absence trend

7.16092%
18/19
5.83231%
20/21
10.80396%
21/22
10.74379%
22/23
10.3265%
23/24
9.84496%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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