Birkdale Primary School

Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class

Matlock Road, Birkdale, Southport, PR8 4EL

01704 567516 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 5 March 2014; confirmed 2024
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths30%England 62% · 2024/25
18th highest of 18 state primary schools in Southport.
Higher than 2% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils430Room for 410 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 444 in 2019, 444 in 2021, 447 in 2022, 453 in 2023, 442 in 2024, 444 in 2025, 430 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.935 for 37 places, September 2026
14th highest of 20 state primary schools in Southport.
Higher than 37% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 5 March 2014.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Leadership and managementGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 17 April 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

63 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.

Southport comparisons use the 7 of its 21 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 14 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolSouthportEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 4th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southport.
Higher than 47% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
95% 95% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
5th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southport.
Higher than 45% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
95% 95% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
5th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southport.
Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
89% 92% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 25 parents whose child had been bullied
2nd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southport.
Higher than 42% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
52% 51% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 48 parents who had raised a concern
4th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southport.
Higher than 42% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
81% 81% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
4th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southport.
Higher than 44% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
90%said yes 89% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Southport figures pool parents at the Southport schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

60 pupils in this year group.

30% — 28 points below the Sefton average, and 32 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSeftonEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 30% 58% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 3% 5% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 60% 74% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 42% 69% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 67% 72% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 102 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 102 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 49%This school 2023/24: 66%This school 2024/25: 30% This school England 62% 2022/23 49% 2023/24 66% 2024/25 30%

Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Sefton. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered37
Families who put it first35
Of those, offered a place35 (100%)
Families who listed it at all108

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Sefton

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolSeftonEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
10th highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport.
Higher than 55% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
23.8% 26.5%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
15th highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport.
Higher than 33% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
2.3% 4.3%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
16th highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport.
Higher than 45% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
13.5% 16.0%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
12th highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport.
Higher than 45% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
7.9% 8.6%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
17th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Southport.
Lower than 21% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
6.2% 5.3%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
17th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Southport.
Lower than 23% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
17.1% 13.4%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
8th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Southport.
Lower than 68% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.2 1.4 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
9th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Southport.
Lower than 67% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.2% 0.7% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.01% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
3rd highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport.
Higher than 94% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
25.9 20.9 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
1st highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport.
Higher than 96% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
15.0 10.3 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
Joint 19th highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport.
Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 11.3%* 14.4%*

Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby primary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Birkdale Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Birkdale Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 5 March 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 17 April 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Birkdale Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 30% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 32 points below the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Birkdale Primary School?

90% of the 63 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Birkdale Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Birkdale Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 35 families put Birkdale Primary School as their first choice for 37 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 35 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.