Kirkby has served their students, who were from a largely disadvantaged, white working class community by entering them for the more vocationally targeted BTEC qualification.

In 2011, Kirkby High School achieved a respectable 41% (5 A to Cs) that wouldn't happen in 2015: 24% achieved the new government benchmark of five GCSEs with English and maths at A* to C.[5] The school was visited by Ofsted in June 2015 and graded as level 3, which would have been Satisfactory, but is now spoken of as Required Improvement.

[9] Schools endeavour to get all students to achieve the English Baccalaureate (EBACC) qualification- this must include core subjects a modern or ancient foreign language, and either History or Geography.

In Key Stage 3, students are setted by ability in the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Modern Foreign Languages, Science, Geography, History, RE, and Physical Education.

Personal Development, Art, Computing, Drama, Music, and Technology are taught in mixed ability classes.