Boys (co-ed sixth)Independent

Birkdale School

Sheffield, Sheffield, Yorkshire and the Humber · S10 3DH

Founded in 1904, Birkdale is an independent boys' school in Sheffield that opens its doors to girls in the sixth form. With around 560 pupils, it sits in the medium-size band and carries a Christian character. The Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded it its top grade of 'excellent' for both education quality and personal development, with all compliance standards met. Day fees run between roughly £20,910 and £21,507 a year, and means-tested bursaries of up to 100 per cent help broaden access.

560

Pupils

excellent

ISI

£21,507

Day fees / yr

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Overview & data

Gender: Boys (co-ed sixth)
Type: independent (fee-paying) school
Age range: 11-18
Pupils: 560
Location: Sheffield, Sheffield, Yorkshire and the Humber
Website: www.birkdaleschool.org.uk
Telephone: 0114 266 8408

Entrance & admissions

Entry age: 11

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Headteacher

Head Ben Bowles

Latest results

Attainment 8

43.7

National average 46.9

GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)

National average 47%

GCSE grade 9-7

64%

A-level A*-A

50%

A-level A*-B

80%

Teaching & academics

Results at the top end are strong: 64 per cent of GCSE grades fall in the 9-7 range, and at A-level half of all entries reach A*-A with 80 per cent at A*-B. The school's Attainment 8 score of 43.7 sits a little below the national average of 46.9, a reminder to look beyond headline figures. Sciences and mathematics feature heavily at both GCSE and A-level, alongside humanities, modern languages and economics, with the EPQ available for independent study.

Sixth form

Sixth-form pupils: 196

Popular A-level subjects

PsychologyMathematicsFurther MathematicsPhysicsBiologyChemistryEconomicsBusiness StudiesHistoryGeographyGovernment and Politics

Qualifications offered

GCSEA-levelEPQ

Learning support & SEN

SEN support: 10.25%
EHC plans: 0.42%

Arts & extracurricular

Scholarships

AcademicSportsMusicArkwright Design Technology

Languages

FrenchGermanSpanishMandarin

Popular GCSE subjects

PhysicsChemistryBiologyGeographyHistoryFrenchGermanSpanishLatinDesign and TechnologyComputer Studies

Beyond the classroom

Languages are a notable strength, with French, German, Spanish and Mandarin all on offer. Scholarships span academic, sports and music routes, and the school participates in the Arkwright scheme for design and technology, signalling a real commitment to engineering and design talent.

Ethos & heritage

Founded: 1904
Religious character: Christian
Boarding: No

Mobile phone policy

Strictly no phones during the school day. Sixth-formers have more latitude.

Money matters

Day fees (per year): £20,910 - £21,507
Bursaries up to: 100% of fees

Means tested bursaries up to 100%

Inspection reports

ISI rating: excellent
ISI personal development: excellent
Last inspected: 17 October 2023

Read the full inspection report ↗

The last word

A long-established Sheffield school with excellent inspection grades and high-end results that reward able, motivated boys, with girls joining in the sixth form. Generous bursaries mean the door is wider than the fees alone suggest.

The Passmate verdict