Schools in Birkenhead
Auckland · Auckland — North
There are 4 schools in and around Birkenhead, Auckland (Auckland — North) — 3 primary, 1 secondary. Birkenhead School is the highest-scoring on the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite, which compares every school against its EQI peer group. Each profile is source-linked to Education Counts, ERO and the Ministry of Education.
4 schools · refreshed from Education Counts 2026-07-12. Full methodology.
Schools in Birkenhead ranked by value-added score
The SchoolsNearMe composite scores every level against its EQI peer group, so it surfaces schools that get the most out of their students — not just the most advantaged intake. How it's calculated.
- View profile →
74
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing89Trajectory43ERO review81 - View profile →
74
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing88Trajectory38ERO review83 - View profile →
61
/ 100 composite
Academic76Outcomes39Retention82Wellbeing36Trajectory47ERO review85 - View profile →
46
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory48ERO review85
What the record says about Birkenhead schools
Plain-language summaries distilled from each school's ERO reports and Ministry records. Every claim is source-linked on the school's profile.
Birkenhead School
Birkenhead School's Board of Trustees confirmed in their February 2023 assurance review that regulatory, legislative, and curriculum requirements were being met. The school had no composite score assigned at the time of this review. There is no active Ministry of Education intervention.
Full source-linked profile →Birkenhead College
Birkenhead College's board has attested to meeting regulatory and legislative requirements across administration, curriculum, and health and safety. An ERO board assurance review was completed in July 2023.
Full source-linked profile →Chelsea School
Chelsea School's 2022 ERO review found the school is highly effective in providing quality education and pastoral care for international students and those learning English as an additional language, with strong support for community integration and attested compliance with the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021. The school has a composite score of 85 and is currently under a limited statutory manager intervention from the Ministry of Education.
Full source-linked profile →Frequently asked questions about Birkenhead schools
What schools are in Birkenhead?
Birkenhead, Auckland has 4 schools on our records (3 primary, 1 secondary): Birkenhead College, Birkenhead School, Chelsea School, Verran Primary School. Every school links to a source-backed profile with ERO history, NCEA results and audited financials.
What is the best school in Birkenhead?
On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which scores each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — Birkenhead School ranks highest among Birkenhead schools (74/100). On NCEA and University Entrance results, Birkenhead College leads the local secondary schools. "Best" depends on what you value — compare profiles to weigh academic results, ERO trajectory, retention and wellbeing.
What is the school zone for Birkenhead?
Many New Zealand state schools operate an enrolment zone (home zone), so your home address — not just the suburb — determines which in-zone state schools you can enrol at. Living in Birkenhead does not guarantee a place at any particular school. Check each school's current zone with the school directly or use our by-address tool to see which schools cover a specific Birkenhead address.
Decile or EQI — how are Birkenhead schools rated for socio-economic need?
New Zealand replaced the decile system with the Equity Index (EQI) in 2023. A lower EQI means a more socio-economically advantaged community; a higher EQI means greater need. EQI is a funding tool, not a quality measure — a high-EQI school can outperform a low-EQI one. The SchoolsNearMe composite controls for EQI so a school serving a more disadvantaged community isn't unfairly penalised.
Source data: Education Counts (NCEA, retention, destinations, discipline, funding) · Ministry of Education (roll, EQI, identity) · Education Review Office (reviews).