Birkdale High School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

This is a much improved school. Achievement is good with GCSE results above the national average. Boys are making good progress in mathematics, English and across a broad range of provision.

Achievement gaps between different groups of boys are narrowing quickly. The quality of teaching and learning has rapidly improved since the last inspection and is now good. There is an increasing amount of outstanding teaching.

Boys feel safe and their behaviour is good. They demonstrate an enthusiasm for and keen application to learning. The school is led by an inspirational headteacher who has transformed the culture to one of ambition an...d continued improvement.

Boys and staff now have their sights, expectations and ambitions set high. Senior leaders and staff have embraced the new culture. Middle leaders make an effective contribution to driving forward improvements Governors offer strong and well informed challenge to senior leaders.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : There is a small proportion of teaching that requires improvement. Marking in a few classes does not support boys towards their next steps in learning. The sharing of outstanding teaching practice is not fully developed.

New data analysis and student progress monitoring systems need to be further embedded across all provision.

Information about this school

Birkdale High is of average size for a secondary school. The percentage of boys known to be eligible for free school meals is well below the national average, as is the percentage of boys from minority ethnic groups.

The proportion of boys with special educational needs and/or disabilities is below the national average and the percentage of boys with a statement of special educational needs is low. It is a specialist school for history, mathematics and computing. The school became an academy in August 2011.

In the inspection of December 2011 the school was placed in special measures. A new executive headteacher was appointed in May 2012. Since the last inspection substantive changes have been made to the composition and responsibilities of the senior leadership team.

A new Chair of Governors took up position in July 2013. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress. The school does not use alternative provision.