Academy converter · Wirral

South Wirral High School

11–18Ages
1,019Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
151354URN

Plymyard Avenue, Eastham, Wirral, CH62 8EH · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 2022 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.9per place

0.3 below Wirral median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in WirralSelective

329 applications for 178 places · 16th of 20 in Wirral

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

38.1of 90

Wirral 39.4 England 46.0

14th of 20 in Wirral

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 11 October 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		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 entry

1.9applications per place, Year 7

0.3 below Wirral median (2.1) 0.4 below England median (2.2)

329 applications · 178 places offered · 164 named it first

2026 1.9; Wirral median median 2.1
2025 2.1; Wirral median median 2.1; as the previous school
2024 1.9; Wirral median median 2.1; as the previous school
2023 1.9; Wirral median median 2.1; as the previous school
2022 1.9; Wirral median median 2.2; as the previous school
2021 1.8; Wirral median median 2.1; as the previous school
2020 2.0; Wirral median median 1.9; as the previous school
2019 1.9; Wirral median median 2.0; as the previous school
2018 1.4; Wirral median median 2.0; as the previous school
2017 1.9; Wirral median median 2.1; as the previous school
2016 1.4; Wirral median median 2.1; as the previous school
2015 1.7; Wirral median median 2.2; as the previous school
2014 1.9; Wirral median median 2.1; as the previous school

This school
Wirral median

Dashed bars: as South Wirral High School (URN 105107), the previous school.

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	178	329	1.9	164	0.92
Sep 2025 *	166	347	2.1	147	0.89
Sep 2024 *	191	360	1.9	170	0.89
Sep 2023 *	205	385	1.9	191	0.93
Sep 2022 *	210	402	1.9	179	0.85
Sep 2021 *	215	382	1.8	169	0.79
Sep 2020 *	138	271	2.0	114	0.83
Sep 2019 *	174	329	1.9	140	0.80
Sep 2018 *	180	259	1.4	119	0.66
Sep 2017 *	134	250	1.9	104	0.78
Sep 2016 *	149	208	1.4	86	0.58
Sep 2015 *	143	241	1.7	96	0.67
Sep 2014 *	145	275	1.9	119	0.82

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

197 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)38.114th of 20 in Wirral

Wirral 39.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths27%13th of 20 in Wirral

Wirral 29% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths57%

Wirral 53% England 66%

This school
Wirral median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.38

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	197	38.1	27%	57%	–
2024/25 *	144	37.4	28%	56%	–
2023/24 *	167	37.3	29%	52%	−0.38
2022/23 *	183	40.9	23%	54%	−0.16

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

South Wirral High SchoolThis school
This school

Good2022

1.9applications per place 38.1Attainment 8
Wirral Grammar School for Boys
4.7 km · Wirral

Good2022

2.5applications per place 68.2Attainment 8 Selective
Wirral Grammar School for Girls
4.8 km · Wirral

Outstanding2022

2.2applications per place 70.9Attainment 8 Selective
Co-op Academy Bebington
5.2 km · Wirral

Good2023

2.7applications per place 36.3Attainment 8
Neston High School
5.3 km · Cheshire West and Chester

2026

2.1applications per place 46.2Attainment 8
St John Plessington Catholic College
5.7 km · Wirral

Good2022

2.2applications per place 39.4Attainment 8
Ellesmere Port Church of England College
6.1 km · Cheshire West and Chester

Good2023

1.6applications per place 36.9Attainment 8
Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy
6.2 km · Cheshire West and Chester

2026

2.1applications per place 36.2Attainment 8
The Whitby High School
6.9 km · Cheshire West and Chester

2026

1.9applications per place 39.0Attainment 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: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 151354 · 344/4071
Trust: The Challenge Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,234 pupils · 1,019 on roll
Free school meals: 36.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 April 2025
Replaced: South Wirral High School (URN 105107)
Address: Plymyard Avenue, Eastham, Wirral, CH62 8EH
Local authority: Wirral

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources