Rock Ferry Primary School

Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class

Part of EXPEDITIONS SCHOOLS

Ionic Street, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, CH42 2BL

0151 645 1017 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 23 May 2011, before conversion; confirmed 2020
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths28%England 62% · 2024/25
13th highest of 13 state primary schools in Birkenhead.
Higher than 2% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils301Room for 345 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 332 in 2019, 342 in 2021, 305 in 2022, 304 in 2023, 306 in 2024, 320 in 2025, 301 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.826 for 32 places, September 2026
13th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead.
Higher than 9% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 23 May 2011. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).

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
Early yearsGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 27 February 2020: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

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

43 pupils in this year group.

28% — 28 points below the Wirral average, and 34 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWirralEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 28% 56% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 0% 6% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 40% 72% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 49% 67% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 42% 68% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 99 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 98 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 33%This school 2023/24: 32%This school 2024/25: 28% This school England 62% 2022/23 33% 2023/24 32% 2024/25 28%

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 Wirral. 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered32
Families who put it first26
Of those, offered a place26 (100%)
Families who listed it at all51

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.8

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 Wirral

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolWirralEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
2nd highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead.
Higher than 98% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
65.3% 32.7%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
4th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead.
Higher than 53% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
3.1% 3.8%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
6th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead.
Higher than 96% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
28.1% 18.3%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
7th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead.
Higher than 64% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
16.9% 7.5%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
Joint 10th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead.
Lower than 7% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
7.4% 5.7%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
7th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead.
Lower than 14% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
20.0% 14.5%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
8th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Birkenhead.
Lower than 20% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
4.1 2.2 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
9th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Birkenhead.
Lower than 11% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
2.8% 1.1% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.02% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
8th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead.
Higher than 22% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
17.9 19.6 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
5th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead.
Higher than 27% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
9.4 10.1 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
11th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead.
Higher than 29% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
7.2% 15.6%* 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 Rock Ferry Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Rock Ferry Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 23 May 2011. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 27 February 2020, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Rock Ferry Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 28% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 34 points below the England average of 62%.

Is Rock Ferry Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 26 families put Rock Ferry Primary School as their first choice for 32 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 26 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.