Birkdale High School
Academy converter · 936 pupils
84% stayed in education · Attainment 8 51.9
Academy sponsor led
St Michaels Church of England Academy
- Pupils on roll
- 547of 684 places
- Free school meals
- 42.8%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- —
- Ofsted
- Inadequate, 19 June 2024Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: St Michael's Church of England High School (URN 141338, until 1 April 2025).
What the data says
Of the 109 pupils who finished Year 11 at St Michaels Church of England Academy in 2023, 28% stayed on in St Michaels Church of England Academy’s own sixth form (Sefton average 25%), 52% went to a further education college and 1% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 41 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 46% went to university (Sefton 27%, England 37%), and 7% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
Almost nobody goes straight into an apprenticeship or a job: 1% took an apprenticeship and 5% went into work, against 3% and 3% across England.
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 Sefton and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | This school | Sefton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 109 | 3,063 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 91% | 89% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 85% | 83% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 28% | 25% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 0% | 2% | 13% |
| — further education college | 52% | 53% | 37% |
| — other education | 5% | 3% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 3% | 3% |
| Employment | 5% | 3% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 6% | 8% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 4% | 4% | 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 | This school | Sefton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 41 | 2,579 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 76% | 75% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 46% | 27% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 7% | 12% | 19% |
| Further education | 7% | 7% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 5% | 8% | 7% |
| Employment | 15% | 32% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 20% | 19% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
No published Key Stage 4 results for this school.
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 | 114 | — | 88% | 6% | 22% | 61% |
| English Language | 113 | — | 89% | 17% | 20% | 65% |
| English Literature | 107 | — | 86% | 17% | 21% | 67% |
| Combined Science | 102 | — | 65% | 3% | 9% | 33% |
| Religious Studies | 87 | — | 31% | 16% | 32% | 57% |
| History | 61 | — | 41% | 28% | 26% | 64% |
| Business Studies | 50 | — | 18% | 2% | 20% | 52% |
| Spanish | 42 | — | 19% | 14% | 27% | 57% |
| Art and Design | 23 | — | 7% | 26% | 24% | 96% |
| Physical Education | 21 | — | 11% | 5% | 24% | 43% |
| Geography | 18 | — | 41% | 22% | 25% | 50% |
| Design and Technology | 16 | — | 11% | 19% | 23% | 94% |
| Biology | 8 | — | 23% | 50% | 45% | 88% |
| Physics | 7 | — | 23% | 57% | 46% | 100% |
| Chemistry | 7 | — | 23% | 43% | 47% | 100% |
| Citizenship Studies | 2 | — | 3% | — | 19% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Childcare Skills | 21 | 100% | — |
| Hospitality / Catering Studies | 18 | 100% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 14 | 100% | — |
| Sports / Movement Science | 13 | 100% | — |
| Speech and Drama | 8 | 100% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | This school | Sefton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 60 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 8 | 897 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C | C | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 30.48 | 29.93 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C | C | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 17% | 9% | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art and Design | — | — | 1% |
| Biology | — | — | 20% |
| Chemistry | — | — | 17% |
| History | — | — | 13% |
| Mathematics | — | — | 31% |
| Physics | — | — | 12% |
| Psychology | — | — | 23% |
| Religious Studies | — | — | 4% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 9 | 100% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 8 | 100% | — |
| Multimedia | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 8 | 100% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 8 | 100% | — |
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Music performance: Group | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Sefton
Chesterfield High School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,692 pupils
79% stayed in education · Attainment 8 48.4
Christ The King Catholic High School and Sixth Form Centre
Voluntary aided school · sixth form · 822 pupils
89% stayed in education · Attainment 8 41.8
Deyes High School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,336 pupils
87% stayed in education · Attainment 8 42.8
Formby High School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,157 pupils
83% stayed in education · Attainment 8 54.3
Greenbank High School
Academy converter · 1,025 pupils
91% stayed in education · Attainment 8 50.6
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.