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Birkenhead Sixth Form College

Birkenhead Sixth Form College

Wirral, CH43 8SQSecondary School·Ages 16-19

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Ofsted Rating

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Capacity

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Pupils

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Demand

About Birkenhead Sixth Form College

Birkenhead Sixth Form College is a state-funded 16-19 mixed sixth form in Wirral, and the numbers suggest it is a popular choice among local families. The school has a capacity of 1,500, and while the data does not include a specific oversubscription ratio or a parentView recommendation percentage, the fact that it operates as a standalone sixth form college in a competitive local market — with 22 schools of the same type in the local authority — indicates strong demand. The headteacher, Mike Kilbride MBE, leads the college, which is non-religious and co-educational. Parents considering post-16 options in Wirral will note that the college is one of only two schools in the area rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and it sits 3.2 km from the nearest other Outstanding-rated school, Upton Hall School FCJ. This suggests that for families prioritising a high-performing sixth form, Birkenhead Sixth Form College is a key local option.

Academically, the college performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 academic year, its A-level value added score was 0.39, with a confidence interval of 0.34 to 0.45, placing it in the 'well above average' progress banding. The average points per entry were 34.12, equivalent to a C+ grade, and the best three A-levels averaged a B- grade with 36.06 points. Of the 527 pupils included in the data, 9.1% achieved AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score for secondary schools is -0.12, so Birkenhead’s positive value added is a clear differentiator. The college does not publish KS2 or GCSE results as it only admits students from age 16, but its A-level outcomes place it among the top performers in Wirral, behind only Upton Hall School FCJ in the local ranking.

The college offers a wide range of facilities, including science labs, a library, music rooms, a sixth form centre, and sports amenities such as a swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, tennis courts, astro turf, and playing fields. There is also a chapel on site. Extracurricular provision includes clubs for Debate, Model UN, Newspaper, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Orchestra, and Young Enterprise, alongside sports like football, hockey, rugby, netball, and martial arts. The college does not offer nursery provision and is not a boarding school. For families in Wirral seeking a high-performing, non-selective sixth form with strong academic progress and a broad range of activities, Birkenhead Sixth Form College is a practical choice, particularly for students who want to stay in the state sector for post-16 study.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range16 to 19 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressPark Road West, Wirral, Wirral, CH43 8SQ
HeadteacherMike Kilbride MBE
Local AuthorityWirral
School Capacity1,500
Sixth FormYes

GCSE Results

Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.

A-Level Results

2023/24
527 students

Average Points per Entry

34.1Grade C+

Value Added Score

+0.39Well Above Average
BelowAverageAbove

Best 3 A-Levels (Average)

36.1Grade B-
AAB or higher (inc. 2 facilitating)9%
Avg Points per Entry over timeStable -0.4

'21/22

36.5

'22/23

32.6

'23/24

34.1

Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.

Where school leavers go

2022/23

63%

of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 616 pupils).

Top-tier university progression

14%

Russell Group

16%

Top-third HE

Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.

  • University (HE)63%
  • Employment20%
  • Not sustained7%
  • Other education3%
  • Apprenticeship3%
  • Further education1%

Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.

Sixth form A-level subjects

2022/23
28 subjects
7 STEM6 creative / arts1418 total entries
  • Psychology250
  • Sociology107
  • Mathematics88
  • Biology76
  • Media/Film/Tv Studies71
  • Law68
  • History63
  • English Language62
  • English Literature58
  • Art and Design (Fine Art)54
  • Business Studies:Single50
  • Film Studies48

Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.

Facilities

13
ICT SuiteDining HallLibrarySwimming PoolSports HallMusic RoomsGymnasiumTennis CourtsSixth Form CentreScience LabsAstro TurfPlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

16

Sports

FootballMartial ArtsHockeyBasketballBadmintonRugbyNetballCricketSwimmingGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

DebateModel United NationsNewspaperDuke of EdinburghOrchestraYoung Enterprise

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

Catchment & Local Competition

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1 mile reference · no real data

No catchment data published for this school

The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.

Schools within 1 mile (reference area)

1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.

9

Total schools

7

Oversubscribed

5

Primary

High competition area

Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Birkenhead Sixth Form College

Birkenhead Sixth Form College's key exam results include: Average A-Level grade: C+.

Contact Information

01516525575www.bsfc.ac.uk

Park Road West, Wirral

Wirral, CH43 8SQ

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Park Road West, Wirral

Wirral, CH43 8SQ

Journey to School

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Opening Hours

Monday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Tuesday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Wednesday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Thursday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Friday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed

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