Birkdale School
School summary
Founded in 1904, Birkdale School is a Christian independent day school for boys in Sheffield, opening its doors to girls at sixth form. With around 560 pupils, it sits in the medium-size band and earned an 'excellent' rating from the ISI across both education quality and personal development, with all compliance standards met. The school combines academic ambition with a clear pastoral ethos, and its breadth of scholarships and means-tested bursaries up to 100% signals a genuine effort to widen access.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
GCSE grade 9-7
64%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
50%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
80%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 17 October 2023
Teaching & academics
Results are well ahead of national benchmarks: 64% of GCSE grades fell in the 9-7 range against a national average of 23%, while at A-level half of all entries reached A*-A and 80% reached A*-B. The sciences and mathematics are clearly a strength, with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and both Mathematics and Further Mathematics among the most popular choices, alongside Economics, History and Psychology. Languages run deep, from French, German and Spanish to Latin and Mandarin, and pupils can take the EPQ to stretch their independent research. This is a school that suits academically motivated boys who will thrive in a demanding setting.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Head · Ben Bowles
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 196
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Scholarships in Sports, Music and Arkwright Design Technology point to genuine activity beyond the classroom, and Design and Technology is a popular GCSE choice. The 196-strong co-educational sixth form offers a broader social environment for older pupils.
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1904
- Religious character
- Christian
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 10.25%
- EHC plans
- 0.42%
Mobile phone policy
Strictly no phones during the school day. Sixth-formers have more latitude.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £20,910 - £21,507
- Bursaries up to
- 100% of fees
Means tested bursaries up to 100%
Schools nearby
Westbourne School
Sheffield, Yorkshire and the Humber
Sheffield High School GDST
Sheffield, Yorkshire and the Humber
Birkdale Prep School
Sheffield, Yorkshire and the Humber
Brantwood Garden School
Sheffield, Yorkshire and the Humber
Bethany School
Sheffield, Yorkshire and the Humber
The University of Sheffield International College
Sheffield, Yorkshire and the Humber
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A high-achieving Sheffield day school where academic results comfortably outpace the national picture, backed by bursaries that put it within reach of more families than the fees alone might suggest.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Birkdale School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.