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Brackenwood Infant School

Primary Ages 4-7 155 pupils Wirral
Ofsted: Outstanding
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Brackenwood Infant School is a community school in Wirral for pupils aged 4 to 7. It has 155 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for Brackenwood Infant School is Outstanding, from an inspection in December 2023.

Ofsted inspection: December 2023.

Type Primary / Community school
Age Range 4-7
Religion Does not apply
Address Pulford Road
Bebington
Wirral
Merseyside
CH63 2HN
Reference Number 105021

General Makeup

Number of pupils 155
Boy/Girl ratio Boys: 58.71%
Girls: 41.29%
Percentage of students eligible for free school meals 21.3%
Percentage of students where English is not their first language 4.5%

Class Sizes

Average size of one teacher classes 22
Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher 22

Year Groups

Year Boys Girls Total
1 31 16 47
2 33 25 58

Ethnicities

Ethnicity Percentage
White, British 88.4%
White, Other 2.6%
Mixed, Other 1.9%
Chinese 1.3%
White & Black (African) 1.3%
Asian, Other 1.3%
White & Black (Caribbean) 0.6%
White & Asian 0.6%
Indian 0.6%
Pakistani 0.6%

Brackenwood Infant School is performing outstandingly across all aspects, reflecting a well-established reputation for excellence. This is the first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the school has shown remarkable resilience and adaptability during this time. Pupils thrive in an incredibly welcoming environment where they are not only happy but also develop a genuine love for learning, supported by a meticulously crafted curriculum that caters to their educational needs from the early years through to key stage 1.

Overall Ofsted Rating Outstanding
 >  Quality of education Outstanding
  >  Behaviour & Attitude Outstanding
  >  Personal Development Outstanding
  >  Leadership & Management Outstanding
  >  Early Years Provision Outstanding
Last Report Date 15 Nov 2023
Date Report
15 Nov 2023 School inspection:
13 Jul 2010 Full inspection:
05 Feb 2007 Full inspection:
30 Apr 2001 Full inspection

Strengths

  • Pupils achieve exceptionally well and become confident, articulate learners.
  • The school provides an exemplary range of enriching extracurricular activities.
  • Reading is prioritized, fostering a love for books among all pupils.
  • Staff deliver a consistently high standard of phonics education.
  • Pupils with SEND receive expert support to achieve highly.
  • Leaders are dynamic in driving forward continuous improvements.

Reception admissions, 2026 entry

Number of Applications Number of Offers
First Preference
Second Preference 58 2
Third Preference 27 0
From another Local Authority 1 0

Previous years

Sample

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Places and pupil numbers

In 2024–25 Brackenwood Infant School had 153 pupils for 215 places. 62 places (28.8%) were unfilled.

Pupils and places

Reception intake in the “Bebington Primary” planning area

Wirral counted 326 Reception pupils in this area in 2024–25 and forecasts 291 in 2029–30, down 11%.

201020112012201320142015201620172018201920212022202320242025
Places 196208208208208208208208208208208208215215215
Pupils 168180180180178177179180177180177163164163153
Unfilled 14.3%13.5%13.5%13.5%14.4%14.9%13.9%13.5%14.9%13.5%14.9%21.6%23.7%24.2%28.8%

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Brackenwood Infant School attended 95.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 9.2% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

20142015201620172018201920212022202320242025
Authorised absence 3.7%3.2%3.8%3.7%3.1%2.5%1.9%4.9%3.6%2.6%3.3%
Unauthorised absence 0.1%0.3%0.5%0.8%0.8%0.6%0.3%0.7%0.8%0.9%1.1%
Severely absent pupils 0.0%0.0%0.8%0.8%0.0%0.0%0.8%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Brackenwood Infant School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

2010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Suspensions per 100 pupils 0.60.01.70.00.00.60.00.00.60.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
Permanent exclusions 0000000000000000

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Brackenwood Infant School had 20.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

2011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
Pupils per adult 13.712.213.713.714.113.913.714.414.514.614.912.112.111.311.18.9
Teachers who left state teaching 0.0%37.5%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%14.3%14.3%14.3%28.6%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%–
Teachers who took any sick leave 37.5%33.3%50.0%37.5%44.4%25.0%75.0%71.4%0.0%–57.1%85.7%62.5%87.5%75.0%–
Sick days per teacher 0.41.22.11.13.34.411.118.10.0–18.48.22.32.63.3–

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 7.7% of pupils at Brackenwood Infant School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 11.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

SEN support EHC plan
Speech, language and communication needs 3 13
Social, emotional and mental health 5 2
Physical disability 1 2
Specific learning difficulty 2 0
No specialist assessment of need 1 0

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Brackenwood Infant School received £8,350 and spent £8,446 for each of its 155 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,000 (£4 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

20192020202120222023202420252026
Revenue reserve £17,000£34,000£77,000£89,000£60,000£34,000£16,000£1,000
per pupil £93£195£426£543£366£211£100£4
In-year balance -£35,000£18,000£42,000£12,000-£29,000-£27,000-£18,000-£15,000
per pupil -£195£100£235£76-£176-£166-£116-£97

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

Name Distance
Brackenwood Junior School
Norbury Avenue, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 2HH
0.13 miles
St Andrew's CofE Primary School
Townfield Lane, Bebington, WIRRAL, Merseyside, CH63 7NL
0.4 miles
Town Lane Infant School
Town Lane, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 8LD
0.46 miles
Stanton Road Primary School
Stanton Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 3HW
0.56 miles
St John's Catholic Infant School
Old Chester Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 7LH
0.65 miles
Higher Bebington Junior School
Mill Road, Higher Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 8QE
0.67 miles
St John's Catholic Junior School
Old Chester Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 7LH
0.68 miles
Church Drive Primary School
Church Drive, Port Sunlight, Wirral, Merseyside, CH62 5EF
0.78 miles
Grove Street Primary School
Grove Street Primary School, Grove Street, New Ferry, Wirral, Merseyside, CH62 5BA
0.89 miles
St Anne's Catholic Primary School
Highfield South, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH42 4NE
1.07 miles
Poulton Lancelyn Primary School
Venables Drive, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 9LY
1.09 miles
Bedford Drive Primary School
Bedford Drive, Rock Ferry, Bedford Drive Primary, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH42 6RT
1.33 miles
Rock Ferry Primary School
Ionic Street, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH42 2BL
1.59 miles
Co-op Academy Woodslee
Croft Avenue, Bromborough, Wirral, Merseyside, CH62 2BP
1.66 miles
Well Lane Primary School
Park Road, Tranmere, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH42 5PF
1.69 miles
Devonshire Park Primary School
Temple Road, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH42 9JX
1.82 miles
Prenton Primary School
Bramwell Avenue, Prenton, Merseyside, CH43 0RQ
1.91 miles
Mersey Park Primary School
Elm Road, Higher Tranmere, Wirral, Merseyside, CH42 0PH
1.92 miles
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Birkenhead
Woodchurch Road, Oxton, Prenton, Merseyside, CH43 5UT
2.03 miles
Woodchurch Road Academy
99 Woodchurch Road, Oxton, Woodchurch Road Academy, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH42 9LJ
2.18 miles
Name Distance
Co-op Academy Bebington
Higher Bebington Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 2PS
0.13 miles
Wirral Grammar School for Girls
Heath Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 3AF
0.18 miles
Wirral Grammar School for Boys
Cross Lane, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 3AQ
0.22 miles
St John Plessington Catholic College
Old Chester Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 7LF
0.63 miles
Prenton High School for Girls
Hesketh Avenue, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH42 6RR
1.31 miles
Horizons Independent School
60 Mendip Road, Birkenhead, Cheshire, CH42 8NU
1.59 miles
Utopia
The Vikes, 40 Thorsway, Rock Ferry, Merseyside, CH42 1NW
1.63 miles
Progress Schools - Wirral
The Hive, Bright Street, Wirral, CH41 4EA
2.83 miles
Birkenhead School
58 Beresford Road, Prenton, CH43 2JD
2.88 miles
Foxfield School
New Hey Road, Woodchurch, Merseyside, CH49 5LF
2.91 miles
Wirral Metropolitan College
Conway Park Campus, Conway Park, Europa Boulevard, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH41 4NT
2.93 miles
Progress Schools - Hamilton Square
60 Hamilton Square, Wirral, CH41 5AT
2.94 miles
Birkenhead High School Academy
86 Devonshire Place, Prenton, Merseyside, CH43 1TY
2.94 miles
King's Leadership Academy, Liverpool
Dingle Vale, Liverpool, Merseyside, L8 9SJ
2.97 miles
Birkenhead Park School
Park Road South, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UY
2.97 miles
St Anselm's College
Manor Hill, Prenton, Merseyside, CH43 1UQ
3.04 miles
Woodchurch High School
Carr Bridge Road, Woodchurch, Wirral, Merseyside, CH49 7NG
3.05 miles
South Wirral High School
Plymyard Avenue, Eastham, Wirral, Merseyside, CH62 8EH
3.12 miles
Ridgeway High School
Noctorum Avenue, Noctorum, Prenton, Merseyside, CH43 9EB
3.16 miles
IMPACT Northwest Schools
Unit 1-4 Tower House, Tower Road, Birkenhead, CH41 1FF
3.26 miles

All schools in Wirral · Wirral local authority: places and applications

What is Brackenwood Infant School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Brackenwood Infant School is Outstanding, from an inspection in December 2023.

When was Brackenwood Infant School last inspected by Ofsted?

Brackenwood Infant School was last inspected in December 2023.

How many pupils does Brackenwood Infant School have?

Brackenwood Infant School has 155 pupils on roll.

What age range does Brackenwood Infant School cover?

Brackenwood Infant School for pupils aged 4 to 7.

Where is Brackenwood Infant School?

Brackenwood Infant School is at Pulford Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 2HN.

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