Pensby High School
Wirral, CH61 6XN · Wirral · secondary school
Check the area around this school
8th of 20 secondary schools in Wirral we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 6.9/10 against 889 of them, against 6.0/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 46.6 · 55 | 30% | 1.64 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.28 · 71 | 25% | 1.78 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 45.9 · 49 | 10% | 0.49 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Pensby High School overview
How it's doing
Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2023. In 2024/25, 42.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.28 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.6 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join STEM, History, and Spanish clubs, participate in the Merseyside Football Cup, and attend trips including Year 9 Barcelona and Year 7 Residential. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 915 pupils against a stated capacity of 900. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
With the roll exceeding capacity by 15, how does the school manage class sizes for new entrants? How does the after-school club support pupils with homework or study skills? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Progress 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about Pensby High School
Overview
Pensby High School continues to be a good school, providing a happy and enjoyable environment where pupils feel accepted and safe. Leaders maintain high expectations for behaviour and achievement, fostering a culture of ‘care, respect and inspire’ that permeates all aspects of school life.
Strengths
- The curriculum is ‘well-thought-out’ and carefully organised to help pupils build knowledge cumulatively, with teachers using ‘strong subject knowledge’ to introduce new concepts expertly.
- Pupils develop into ‘confident and articulate young people’ who value their voice and opportunities to work with leaders to improve the school.
- Staff care deeply for pupils, resolving bullying incidents swiftly and ensuring that ‘bullying and discriminatory behaviour are not tolerated’.
- Leaders provide effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), equipping staff with detailed guidance to help them access the curriculum alongside peers.
- Staff wellbeing is prioritised through initiatives such as ‘health packages and family-friendly time’, leading to overwhelmingly positive staff sentiment.
Areas to improve
- In a small number of subjects, assessment processes do not sufficiently check how well pupils have learned key knowledge, meaning teachers sometimes move on before addressing misconceptions.
- A small proportion of pupils do not attend school regularly enough, causing them to miss out on important learning.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff being ‘fully cognisant of the procedures for keeping pupils safe’ and working tenaciously with external agencies to support vulnerable pupils.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 43.7 |
| 2024/25 | 44.8 |
| 2025/26 | 45.9 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of CH61 6XN, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT