Wirral Grammar School for Boys
90%
Capacity
1,074
Pupils
2.6x
Demand
About Wirral Grammar School for Boys
Wirral Grammar School for Boys posts a Progress 8 score of 0.36, which is well above the Wirral local authority average of -0.12 for state secondary schools. That gap of nearly half a grade per subject is significant and places the school firmly in the 'above average' banding nationally. It ranks 5th out of 22 schools of the same type in the borough, putting it in the top quarter locally, and sits 75th out of 445 in the North West region. The school is also a strong performer on the EBacc measure, with 93% of pupils entered for the full suite of EBacc subjects and 59.2% achieving a grade 5 or above in English and maths alongside it. Its Attainment 8 score of 65.7 is high, and 93.6% of pupils secured a grade 5 or better in both English and maths — a figure that comfortably outstrips most of its Wirral peers.
The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good overall, but with several Outstanding judgements. Behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and the sixth-form provision were all judged Outstanding, while leadership and management and the quality of education were rated Good. This represents a shift from its previous inspection in 2009, when the school was rated Outstanding overall. At KS5, the sixth form achieves a value-added score of 0.06, which is in line with the national average, and pupils leave with an average grade of B- across their best three A-levels. The average points per entry is 36.39, also equivalent to a B-. With 130 pupils in the KS5 cohort, the sixth form is a substantial and well-subscribed part of the school.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 381 applications for 147 places, with 151 first-preference applications and 146 offers made to first-preference candidates — an oversubscription ratio of 2.59. Facilities are strong and include a swimming pool, tennis courts, astro turf, a sports hall, science labs, and a dedicated sixth-form centre. The school offers a wide range of clubs and activities, including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model United Nations, and Young Enterprise, and fields teams in sports such as rugby, cricket, and athletics. Its SEND provisions are broad, covering specific learning difficulties, speech and language needs, autism, and physical disabilities. This is a selective-ability boys' grammar that delivers strong academic outcomes, particularly at GCSE, and suits families looking for a high-performing, well-resourced school with a clear academic focus and a thriving sixth form.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Cross Lane, Wirral, Wirral, CH63 3AQ |
| Headteacher | Simon Ascroft |
| Local Authority | Wirral |
| Number of Pupils | 1,074 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 9.1% |
| School Capacity | 1,074 / 1,194 (90% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 19 Dec 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.36)
723rd of 3,141
Nationally
75th of 445
In North West
5th 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
39.5
'22/23
36.8
'23/24
36.4
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
2022/2388%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 159 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)88%
- Sixth form college6%
- Not sustained3%
- Employment2%
- FE college1%
97% 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
2022/2373%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 131 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
39%
Russell Group
49%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)73%
- Employment10%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Not sustained5%
- Further education2%
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- Mathematics55
- Business Studies:Single44
- Biology42
- Physics42
- Chemistry37
- Economics37
- History24
- Psychology23
- English Literature14
- Law14
- English Language9
- Geography9
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
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed147
381
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
151 families put this school as their 1st choice (40% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:40
Source: wirralgrammarboys.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half 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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British77.8%
- Asian12.1%
- Mixed4.5%
- White (other)2.9%
- Black0.4%
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
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
14
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
10
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 Wirral Grammar School for Boys
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
Cross Lane, Wirral
Wirral, CH63 3AQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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