Woodchurch High School
101%
Capacity
1,415
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About Woodchurch High School
Woodchurch High School is a Church of England secondary for 11 to 16 year olds in Wirral, and it is a popular choice. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 601 applications for 257 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.34 applicants per place. Of those, 271 put it as their first preference, and 247 first-preference offers were made. The school currently has 1,415 pupils on roll, slightly above its stated capacity of 1,405. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 39.1%, which is significantly higher than the national average for secondary schools. This context matters when interpreting the school’s academic results, as schools with higher levels of disadvantage often face additional challenges in achieving top-line outcomes.
In its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2025, Woodchurch was judged Good across all graded areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The school has held a Good rating since at least 2012. On the key Progress 8 measure, which tracks how much progress pupils make between Key Stage 2 and GCSEs compared with pupils nationally, Woodchurch scored -0.09. This is slightly above the Wirral local authority average of -0.12, and the school is ranked 10th out of 20 schools in the borough on this metric. The Attainment 8 score, which measures average GCSE performance across eight subjects, is 38.6. Just over half of pupils (52.9%) achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, while 26.4% reached the higher grade 5 threshold in both. The EBacc average point score is 3.22, and 42.5% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, chapel, and music rooms, plus sports such as rugby, cricket, and martial arts. Clubs include orchestra, coding, and Young Enterprise. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for a broad spectrum of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health support. Parent View responses from 176 parents are overwhelmingly positive: 86% would recommend the school, and 88% strongly agree or agree that their child is happy. The school is oversubscribed, so families applying should be aware that first-preference applications outnumber places. It is a solid, well-regarded local option for families who want a Church of England secondary with strong pastoral support and a realistic, above-average progress record for the area.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Carr Bridge Road, Wirral, Wirral, CH49 7NG |
| Headteacher | Martyn Canham |
| Local Authority | Wirral |
| Number of Pupils | 1,415 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 39.1% |
| School Capacity | 1,415 / 1,405 (101% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
24 Jun 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Source: Ofsted, 7 Sept 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.09)
1761st of 3,141
Nationally
199th of 445
In North West
10th of 20
In Wirral
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
2022/236%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 267 pupils).
- FE college36%
- Sixth form college31%
- Not sustained9%
- School sixth form (stay)6%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Employment6%
89% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
176 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed257
601
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
271 families put this school as their 1st choice (45% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:15
Breakfast club
08:00-08:55
Source: woodchurchhigh.com. 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British90.7%
- Asian2.7%
- Mixed2.1%
- White (other)0.9%
- 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.
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.
9
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
6
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 Woodchurch 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
Carr Bridge Road, Wirral
Wirral, CH49 7NG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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