Birkenhead High School Academy
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 1,226 pupils
92% stayed in education · Attainment 8 50.5
Academy converter
Hilbre High School
- Pupils on roll
- 1,154of 1,160 places
- Free school meals
- 30.6%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 192
- Ofsted
- Report card, 24 March 2026Read the Ofsted report
Curriculum and teaching Needs attentionAchievement Needs attentionAttendance and behaviour Needs attentionPersonal development and wellbeing Needs attentionInclusion Expected standardLeadership and governance Needs attentionPost-16 provision Needs attentionSafeguarding Met
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Hilbre High School (URN 105102, until 1 July 2012).
What the data says
Of the 200 pupils who finished Year 11 at Hilbre High School in 2023, 44% stayed on in Hilbre High School’s own sixth form (Wirral average 38%), 27% went to a further education college and 6% started an apprenticeship.
Food Preparation and Nutrition is unusually popular at GCSE: 33% of the year group took it, against 8% of pupils across England.
A level grades average D+, well below the England average of B-; 0% of students achieved AAB or better including two facilitating subjects (England 18%). The largest A level subjects are Psychology, English Language and Literature and Geography.
Among the 80 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 34% went to university (Wirral 39%, England 37%), and 12% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Wirral and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Hilbre High School | Wirral | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 200 | 3,848 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 91% | 91% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 83% | 85% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 44% | 38% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 12% | 19% | 13% |
| — further education college | 27% | 25% | 37% |
| — other education | 0% | 3% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 6% | 3% | 3% |
| Employment | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 7% | 7% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Hilbre High School | Wirral | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 80 | 3,298 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 79% | 79% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 34% | 39% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 12% | 23% | 19% |
| Further education | 4% | 6% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 11% | 8% | 7% |
| Employment | 21% | 25% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 10% | 16% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | Hilbre High School | Wirral | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 39.0 | 45.3 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 25% | 44% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 48% | 62% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 10% | 39% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 3.09 | 3.96 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 28% | 33% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 31.8 | 32.3 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 41.8 | 51.6 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 3% | 6% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 188 | 98% | 88% | 8% | 22% | 55% |
| English Language | 185 | 96% | 89% | 13% | 20% | 66% |
| English Literature | 180 | 94% | 86% | 16% | 21% | 73% |
| Combined Science | 148 | 77% | 65% | 3% | 9% | 38% |
| Geography | 70 | 36% | 41% | 7% | 25% | 47% |
| Food Preparation and Nutrition | 63 | 33% | 8% | 3% | 21% | 56% |
| History | 60 | 31% | 41% | 8% | 26% | 37% |
| Spanish | 54 | 28% | 19% | 7% | 27% | 59% |
| Drama | 47 | 24% | 7% | 21% | 27% | 79% |
| Art and Design | 39 | 20% | 7% | 13% | 24% | 74% |
| Biology | 34 | 18% | 23% | 12% | 45% | 68% |
| Chemistry | 33 | 17% | 23% | 12% | 47% | 67% |
| Physics | 32 | 17% | 23% | 22% | 46% | 75% |
| Psychology | 26 | 14% | 3% | 8% | 22% | 46% |
| Business Studies | 26 | 14% | 18% | 8% | 20% | 73% |
| Design and Technology | 22 | 11% | 11% | 5% | 23% | 64% |
| Religious Studies | 21 | 11% | 31% | 10% | 32% | 71% |
| Textiles | 13 | 7% | 2% | 8% | 27% | 69% |
| Dance | 12 | 6% | 1% | 8% | 27% | 67% |
| French | 8 | 4% | 18% | 50% | 29% | 63% |
| Computer Science | 7 | 4% | 13% | 0% | 30% | 43% |
| Music | 1 | 1% | 5% | — | 33% | — |
| Physical Education | 1 | 1% | 11% | — | 24% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Studies | 41 | 73% | — |
| Small Business Management | 33 | 59% | — |
| Sports Studies | 31 | 55% | — |
| Health Studies | 27 | 48% | — |
| Music performance: Group | 26 | 46% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 12 | 21% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Hilbre High School | Wirral | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 166 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 56 | 1,844 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | D+ | B- | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 22.27 | 35.37 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | D+ | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 0% | 16% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 19 | 34% | 23% |
| English Language and Literature | 13 | 23% | 2% |
| Geography | 9 | 16% | 10% |
| Biology | 9 | 16% | 20% |
| Chemistry | 8 | 14% | 17% |
| Media Studies | 8 | 14% | 4% |
| Business Studies | 7 | 13% | 13% |
| Product Design | 6 | 11% | 2% |
| Mathematics | 6 | 11% | 31% |
| Physics | — | — | 12% |
| Spanish | — | — | 2% |
| Art and Design | — | — | 1% |
| French | — | — | 1% |
| History | — | — | 13% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law / Legal Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 20 | 36% | — |
| Applied Business | VRQ Level 3 | 20 | 36% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 12 | 21% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 10 | 18% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 10 | 18% | — |
| Animal Husbandry: Specific Animals | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 9 | 16% | — |
| Speech and Drama | VRQ Level 3 | 8 | 14% | — |
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | 6 | 11% | — |
| Music performance: Group | VRQ Level 3 | 6 | 11% | — |
| Sports Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | 6 | 11% | — |
| Computer Architecture / Systems | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Small Business Management | BTEC Technical Certificate L2 - Band E - P-D | — | — | — |
| Sports Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate at Level 2 | — | — | — |
| Sports Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Computer Architecture / Systems | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Law / Legal Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Wirral
Birkenhead Park School
Academy sponsor led · 731 pupils
71% stayed in education · Attainment 8 39.9
Calday Grange Grammar School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,493 pupils
95% stayed in education · Attainment 8 68.1
Co-op Academy Bebington
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 1,044 pupils
89% stayed in education · Attainment 8 37.3
Pensby High School
Foundation school · sixth form · 915 pupils
80% stayed in education · Attainment 8 44.8
Prenton High School for Girls
Academy converter · 770 pupils
78% stayed in education · Attainment 8 38.9
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.