South Wirral High School
N/A
Capacity
N/A
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About South Wirral High School
South Wirral High School has been rated Good across all categories in its most recent Ofsted inspection, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating. The school’s Progress 8 score of -0.38 places it in the bottom 50 nationally, and it ranks 15th out of 20 secondary schools in Wirral local authority, where the average Progress 8 score is -0.12. This means pupils at South Wirral make less academic progress than the typical student in the area. The Attainment 8 score sits at 37.3, and just over half of pupils (52.1%) achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school’s EBacc entry rate is low at 14.4%, and only 3.6% of pupils entered the full EBacc combination, well below the national picture.
At Key Stage 5, the sixth form is also rated Good, though outcomes are more mixed. With 34 students in the cohort, the average points per entry is 19.93, equivalent to a D grade, and the best three A-levels average out at a D+. The value added score is -0.46, which is below average, meaning students typically leave sixth form with lower grades than their prior attainment would predict. No students achieved AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects. The school’s Progress 8 banding is ‘Below average’, and it sits at the 75th percentile within Wirral, behind local grammar schools like Upton Hall School FCJ and West Kirby Grammar School, which post significantly higher scores.
The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26, it received 347 applications for 166 places, with 147 first-preference offers made. Facilities are strong for a state secondary, including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, and dedicated art and music rooms. Sports on offer include rowing, hockey, and netball, and clubs range from Model UN to orchestra and chess. The school provides for a wide range of SEND needs, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health support. South Wirral suits families who value a broad extracurricular offer and a school that has improved its Ofsted rating, but who are realistic about academic outcomes that sit below both local and national averages.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Plymyard Avenue, Wirral, Wirral, CH62 8EH |
| Headteacher | Mike Cloherty |
| Local Authority | Wirral |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Oct 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 21 Nov 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.38)
2414th of 3,141
Nationally
306th of 445
In North West
15th of 20
In Wirral
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
26.5
'22/23
21.4
'23/24
19.9
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2352%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 145 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)52%
- FE college26%
- Not sustained8%
- Sixth form college5%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Employment3%
91% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2342%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 48 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
6%
Russell Group
9%
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)42%
- Employment19%
- Apprenticeship17%
- Not sustained8%
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- Psychology18
- Geography16
- History16
- Physics9
- Film Studies8
- Art and Design (Photography)6
- Mathematics6
- Art and Design (Fine Art)5
- Biology5
- Law5
- English Literature4
- Computer Studies / Computing3
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed166
347
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
147 families put this school as their 1st choice (42% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:35 – 15:05
Source: southwirral.wirral.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
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 most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British94.6%
- Mixed1.7%
- White (other)1.2%
- Asian0.3%
- Black0.3%
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.
5
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
4
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 South Wirral 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
Plymyard Avenue, Wirral
Wirral, CH62 8EH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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