Woodchurch Road Academy
39%
Capacity
192
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About Woodchurch Road Academy
Woodchurch Road Academy is a primary school in Wirral that receives strong interest from local families, with 26 applications for just 12 places in the 2025/26 admissions round. That works out at just over two applicants per place, and nine of those applications were first-preference choices. The school is clearly on many parents' radar, though it is worth noting that the most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated the school as Requires Improvement overall. That said, the inspection report gave Good ratings for early years provision, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes, which suggests that parents may be seeing positive day-to-day experiences for their children even while the school works on the areas flagged by inspectors.
Academically, the picture is mixed. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection rated quality of education and leadership and management as Requires Improvement, which aligns with the overall rating. For context, the local authority average for Key Stage 2 attainment in Wirral is 53 per cent, though Woodchurch Road Academy's own KS2 results are not available in the data. The school has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 57.3 per cent, which is significantly above the national average and can sometimes affect headline attainment figures. Compared with its previous inspection in 2018, the school has held a Requires Improvement rating across both visits, so progress on the academic front has been slow. There is no sixth form, and the school does not publish Progress 8 or A-Level data, as it is a primary-only setting.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a sensory room, forest school, art studios, music rooms, and a chapel, plus playing fields and a sports hall. Clubs include coding, chess, book club, science club and film club, and sports on offer range from cricket and netball to dance and cross country. The school has identified SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social emotional and mental health needs, and speech language and communication needs. With nursery provision on site, it could suit families looking for continuity from age three through to Year 6. However, with 192 pupils against a capacity of 497, the school is significantly under-enrolled, which may reflect the local demographic or parental choices in the area. For families who prioritise a school with strong pastoral ratings and a wide activities programme, Woodchurch Road Academy may be worth a closer look, particularly if the school's current improvement journey aligns with their expectations.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | 99 Woodchurch Road, Woodchurch Road Academy, Birkenhead, Wirral, CH42 9LJ |
| Headteacher | Alexandra Borrill |
| Local Authority | Wirral |
| Number of Pupils | 192 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 57.3% |
| School Capacity | 192 / 497 (39% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Apr 2022Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 3 Jul 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed12
26
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
9 families put this school as their 1st choice (35% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British85.9%
- Asian6.7%
- White (other)2.6%
- Mixed2.6%
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.
Half 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.
14
Total schools
12
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 Woodchurch Road Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
99 Woodchurch Road, Woodchurch Road Academy, Birkenhead
Wirral, CH42 9LJ
99 Woodchurch Road, Woodchurch Road Academy, Birkenhead
Wirral, CH42 9LJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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