To help to maintain Birkenhead High’s ethos and aspirational culture, admission to the school will be phased from 2009. With entry only at Nursery, Reception, Year 7 and the Sixth Form (existing year groups will not increase in size), the Academy can expand gradually until it reaches its full capacity of about 980 pupils in 2016 – no more than 700 in the Senior department and 280 in Juniors. It will retain the warmth and personal relationships that are characteristic of a small independent school, where all youngsters are known, while providing the breadth of opportunities that a modern education requires.

The Sixth Form will grow to 200 students to enable it to have places for all the students coming through the school, as well as to offer opportunities to a small number of external students.

There are separate admission arrangements for each of the four points of entry (Nursery, Reception, Year 7 and Sixth Form).