SchoolScoresWoodlands Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Hollybank Road, Birkenhead, CH41 2SY
0151 647 8406 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 1 November 2016.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 18 May 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
47 pupils in this year group.
53% — 3 points below the Wirral average, and 9 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Wirral | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 53% | 56% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 2% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 66% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 64% | 67% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 74% | 68% | 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. | 103 | 104 | 105 |
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 offered | 36 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 32 |
| Of those, offered a place | 32 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 50 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.1 · 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Wirral | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 8th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Higher than 95% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 57.9% | 32.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Higher than 42% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.6% | 3.8%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 13th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Higher than 85% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.1% | 18.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Higher than 93% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 58.1% | 7.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 12th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Lower than 5% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.8% | 5.7%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 12th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Lower than 7% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 23.4% | 14.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 13 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Lower than 66% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 2nd lowest of 13 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Lower than 65% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 9th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Higher than 14% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 16.6 | 19.6 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 10th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Higher than 15% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.5 | 10.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 6th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Higher than 76% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 21.1% | 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
- St Werburgh's Catholic Primary School 0.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 44% met expected standard (KS2)
- Birkenhead Christ Church CofE Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mersey Park Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2019), confirmed 2025 · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
- Woodchurch Road Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 7 expected · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cathcart Street Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 26% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Priory Parish CofE Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Well Lane Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2023, before conversion)
- Devonshire Park Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Birkenhead 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Rock Ferry Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011, before conversion), confirmed 2020 · 28% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Woodlands Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Woodlands Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 1 November 2016. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 18 May 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Woodlands Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 53% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 9 points below the England average of 62%.
Is Woodlands Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 32 families put Woodlands Primary School as their first choice for 36 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 32 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 104990.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.