Classpot

Bridgewater High School

Warrington, WA4 3AESecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Oct 2022
Progress 8
+0.20
Above average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
296 1st-choice / 333 places
Ranking
#1,079
of 3,141 nationally

About Bridgewater High School

Bridgewater High School is a large secondary in Warrington that is comfortably oversubscribed, a clear signal of its local reputation. With 1,674 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,560, the school is operating above its official limit, and for the 2025/26 intake it received 593 applications for 333 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.78. Of those, 295 offers went to first-preference families, meaning demand is strong but not impossibly competitive. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 13.3%, which is below the national average for secondary schools (around 23%) and suggests a relatively affluent catchment. The school is non-denominational, mixed, and serves ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form or nursery provision. Headteacher Keiron Powell leads a school that, in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, was rated Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This represents a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2011, but the school remains one of the stronger options in Warrington.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressBroomfields Road, Warrington, Warrington, WA4 3AE
HeadteacherKeiron Powell
Local AuthorityWarrington
Number of Pupils1,674
Free School Meals (FSM)13.3%
School Capacity1,674 / 1,560 (107% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

11 Oct 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 21 Nov 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

13
Music RoomsScience LabsSports HallLibrarySixth Form CentreAstro TurfDining HallTheatreTennis CourtsPlaying FieldsSwimming PoolGymnasiumChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

NetballAthleticsBadmintonHockeyCricketGymnasticsRowing

Clubs & Activities

CodingArt ClubModel United NationsChessDebateNewspaper

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

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyResourced Provision

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Bridgewater High School

Bridgewater High School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.