Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #7 in Warrington public Top 17% UK

Birchwood Community High School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personHead not listed

corporate_fareONE COMMUNITY TRUST

location_onWarrington, WA3 7PT

language Visit Website phone 1925853500

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

922

trending_up

Attainment 8

47.9

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#7 in Warrington

#1,228 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Birchwood Community High School is a Academy converter secondary school in Warrington, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

article

School Summary

Birchwood Community High School is an academy converter in Warrington, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of ONE COMMUNITY TRUST. The school has approximately 889 pupils on roll, of whom 38% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 47.9, placing the school #7 in Warrington and #1,228 of 3,216 nationally. 42.90% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 16.8% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.2:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 5.1 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

47.9

Grade 5+ E&M

42.90%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)16.8%

Entering EBacc50.60%

EBacc APS4.35

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.37

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc8.10%

EBacc APS3.5

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.38

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc10%

EBacc APS3.53

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.78

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc29%

EBacc APS3.74

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc33%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.19

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc48%

EBacc APS4.03

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.26

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc28%

EBacc APS3.73

explore

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships8%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

workspace_premium

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2023

2022

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

10 December 2024

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

10 October 2018

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

30 March 2017

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

04 May 2016

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

04 July 2013

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2024-12-10

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2018-10-10

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2017-03-30

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2016-05-04

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2012-05-10

None Legacy

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

6.6%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.8%(43 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 889 pupils. During this period, there were 59 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 6.6%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	889	59	6.6%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	889	32	3.6%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	908	41	4.5%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	913	36	3.9%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	911	30	3.3%	8.2%	3
2022/23 (Summer term)	916	49	5.3%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	922	34	3.7%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	931	21	2.3%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	905	30	3.3%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	900	28	3.1%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	901	34	3.8%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	895	40	4.5%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	889	12	1.3%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	884	32	3.6%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	901	1	0.1%	0.0%	1
2019/20 (Spring term)	901	14	1.6%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	898	41	4.6%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	952	33	3.5%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	955	22	2.3%	3.8%	2
2018/19 (Autumn term)	958	53	5.5%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,005	18	1.8%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,016	13	1.3%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,028	26	2.5%	3.7%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,071	21	2.0%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,062	24	2.3%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,068	23	2.2%	3.1%	1

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 67 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 37 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 35 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 32 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 20 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 3 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 2 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

73.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

78.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

25.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree38%

agree45%

disagree9%

strongly disagree7%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree31%

agree22%

disagree36%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree33%

agree27%

disagree15%

strongly disagree5%

don't know4%

not applicable16%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes31%

no69%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree18%

agree18%

disagree47%

dont know18%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree35%

agree45%

disagree7%

strongly disagree2%

don't know11%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree47%

agree35%

disagree7%

strongly disagree7%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree33%

agree33%

disagree29%

strongly disagree5%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree45%

agree44%

disagree7%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree51%

agree42%

disagree4%

strongly disagree4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree42%

agree27%

disagree11%

strongly disagree9%

don't know11%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes80%

no20%

Top Secondary Schools in Warrington

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Lymm High School

Good

location_on Lymm, WA13 0RB

emoji_events #1 in LA

King's Leadership Academy Warrington

Outstanding

location_on Warrington, WA1 4PF

emoji_events #2 in LA

Bridgewater High School

Good

location_on Warrington, WA4 3AE

emoji_events #3 in LA

St Gregory's Catholic High School

Good

location_on Warrington, WA5 1HG

emoji_events #4 in LA

Culcheth High School

Good

location_on Warrington, WA3 5HH

emoji_events #5 in LA

Great Sankey High School

Good

location_on Warrington, WA5 3AA

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Warrington arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Warrington

Lymm High School

King's Leadership Academy Warrington

Bridgewater High School

St Gregory's Catholic High School

Culcheth High School

Great Sankey High School