Pensby High School
102%
Capacity
920
Pupils
3.4x
Demand
About Pensby High School
Pensby High School’s Progress 8 score of 0.28 places it well above the Wirral local authority average of -0.12 for secondary schools, meaning pupils here make significantly more academic progress than their peers across the borough. This positive score is consistent across all subject areas, with English at 0.24, maths at 0.27, and the EBacc subjects at 0.16, while the open element (non-EBacc qualifications) is the strongest at 0.41. The school ranks 7th out of 20 secondary schools in Wirral, putting it in the top 35% locally, and 880th nationally out of over 3,100 schools. With a Progress 8 banding of ‘Above average’, it’s a clear outperformer compared with the typical Wirral school, and its Attainment 8 score of 43.7 reflects solid GCSE results across eight core subjects.
In its most recent graded inspection in 2018, Ofsted rated the school Good overall, with Good for leadership and management and Good for sixth-form provision. A subsequent ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed the school remains Good. The basics measure shows 68.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and 38% achieved a grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 3.72, with 17.2% of pupils entering the EBacc and 8% achieving a grade 5 or above in it. The school has a sixth form, and its sixth-form provision was rated Good in the 2018 inspection. Compared with its previous inspection in 2013, which also rated the school Good overall, the school has maintained its standard.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 192 places in the 2025/26 academic year, it received 653 applications, a ratio of 3.4 applicants per place, with 193 first-preference applications and 177 first-preference offers. Facilities include a swimming pool, theatre, art studios, science labs, a chapel, and a sixth-form centre. Sports on offer include football, dance, swimming, tennis, hockey, martial arts, and badminton, while clubs range from orchestra and choir to coding, gardening, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The school has a broad SEND provision covering dyslexia, moderate to severe learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language difficulties, hearing and visual impairments, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 23.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake and suits families looking for a high-performing comprehensive with strong progress outcomes and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Irby Road, Wirral, Wirral, CH61 6XN |
| Headteacher | Kevin Flanagan |
| Local Authority | Wirral |
| Number of Pupils | 920 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 23.6% |
| School Capacity | 920 / 900 (102% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
23 Mar 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (23 Mar 2023): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 28 Feb 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.28)
880th of 3,141
Nationally
90th of 445
In North West
7th of 20
In Wirral
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2310%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 131 pupils).
- Sixth form college41%
- FE college33%
- School sixth form (stay)10%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Employment5%
- Not sustained3%
96% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed192
653
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
193 families put this school as their 1st choice (30% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:25
Source: pensbyhighschool.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British93.0%
- Mixed2.5%
- Asian2.0%
- White (other)1.2%
- Black0.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
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.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
Primary
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 Pensby High School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Irby Road, Wirral
Wirral, CH61 6XN
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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