This schoolOther secondary schools in WirralSelective
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 23 March 2023Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
- 17 January 2018Graded inspection: Good
Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades
About these grades
Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.
How hard is it to get a place?
DfE · Sept 2026 entry601 applications · 173 places offered · 165 named it first
- 2026 3.5; Wirral median median 2.1
- 2025 3.4; Wirral median median 2.1
- 2024 3.0; Wirral median median 2.1
- 2023 3.7; Wirral median median 2.1
- 2022 4.1; Wirral median median 2.2
- 2021 4.2; Wirral median median 2.1
- 2020 3.0; Wirral median median 1.9
- 2019 2.6; Wirral median median 2.0
- 2018 2.4; Wirral median median 2.0
- 2017 2.3; Wirral median median 2.1
- 2016 2.6; Wirral median median 2.1
- 2015 2.4; Wirral median median 2.2
- 2014 2.9; Wirral median median 2.1
- This school
- Wirral median
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council
How this is measured
Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.
| Entry | Places | Applications | Per place | First preferences | First-pref. ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 173 | 601 | 3.5 | 165 | 0.95 |
| Sep 2025 | 192 | 653 | 3.4 | 193 | 1.01 |
| Sep 2024 | 208 | 626 | 3.0 | 179 | 0.86 |
| Sep 2023 | 188 | 694 | 3.7 | 177 | 0.94 |
| Sep 2022 | 180 | 740 | 4.1 | 217 | 1.21 |
| Sep 2021 | 179 | 744 | 4.2 | 144 | 0.80 |
| Sep 2020 | 179 | 542 | 3.0 | 161 | 0.90 |
| Sep 2019 | 174 | 457 | 2.6 | 103 | 0.59 |
| Sep 2018 | 159 | 382 | 2.4 | 82 | 0.52 |
| Sep 2017 | 146 | 328 | 2.3 | 78 | 0.53 |
| Sep 2016 | 141 | 364 | 2.6 | 82 | 0.58 |
| Sep 2015 | 77 | 183 | 2.4 | 51 | 0.66 |
| Sep 2014 | 66 | 192 | 2.9 | 60 | 0.91 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 178 | 45.9 | 47% | 78% | – |
| 2024/25 | 171 | 44.8 | 43% | 73% | – |
| 2023/24 | 163 | 43.7 | 38% | 68% | +0.28 |
| 2022/23 | 157 | 44.8 | 45% | 66% | +0.27 |
Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.
Schools nearby
The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority
- Pensby High SchoolThis schoolThis schoolRemains Good20233.5applications per place 45.9Attainment 8
- 4.2 km · WirralStandards maintained20241.8applications per place 63.7Attainment 8 Selective
- 4.4 km · WirralGraded · no overall grade20252.5applications per place 38.5Attainment 8
- 4.8 km · WirralOutstanding20222.0applications per place 65.6Attainment 8 Selective
- 4.8 km · Wirral20263.3applications per place 37.8Attainment 8
- 4.9 km · WirralGood20242.1applications per place 37.7Attainment 8
- 6.1 km · WirralGood20222.1applications per place 68.6Attainment 8 Selective
- 6.5 km · Cheshire West and Chester20262.1applications per place 46.2Attainment 8
- 6.5 km · WirralGood20234.7applications per place 49.1Attainment 8
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
- Does not apply
Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.
School details
- Type
- Foundation school
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 105101 · 344/4058
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 900 pupils · 915 on roll
- Free school meals
- 25.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Replaced
- Pensby High School for Boys: A Specialist Sports College (URN 105100)
- Address
- Irby Road, Heswall, Wirral, CH61 6XN
- Local authority
- Wirral
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources