Birkdale High School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 14 April 2026

Birkdale High School is ‘A School Where We All Belong’. Staff and pupils truly feel part of a cohesive team. They share the goal of all pupils achieving their personal best. Pupils are very well cared for by staff. Pupils fully trust staff to deal with any concerns they may have. Most pupils achieve well, particularly in English, mathematics and science. In national examinations at the end of key stage 4, many pupils achieve above national averages. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Disadvantaged pupils achieve in line with disadvantaged pupils nationally. Improvements made to the curriculum ensure that pupils receive consistently high-quality teaching. Pupils enjoy learning. Teachers carefully check what pupils know. This means they routinely support pupils to close any gaps in their learning they may have. Pupils who experience barriers to learning are very well supported to access the curriculum. Pupils are very respectful towards their peers and staff. Pupils follow the high expectations that leaders set. This means that they enjoy calm lessons and social times. Most pupils attend school regularly. This means that they benefit fully from the highly positive school environment. Bullying is not tolerated here. Pupils value the consistently positive relationships they share with staff and their peers. There is a wide range of opportunities available to pupils. These activities allow them to develop interests and talents. Most pupils take advantage of this offer. The careers guidance and information that pupils receive supports them to make informed decisions about their futures. Pupils value diversity. They have a deep understanding of and accept different cultures and faiths.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that staff take collective responsibility for securing consistently high levels of pupil attendance, with a particular focus on reducing persistent and severe absence.
• Leaders should ensure that their analysis of data continues to drive high-quality support and sustained improvements in outcomes for all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, so that they can exceed national averages in national examinations.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)