Birchwood and Culcheth children are more obese than average

According to figures from Warrington Borough Council, children of reception age (four and five years old) in Birchwood and Culcheth are more likely to be obese than children in the rest of the town.

In Birchwood, 25.7 per cent of reception-age children are obese, meanwhile in Culcheth 27.6 per cent of four and five year olds are obese - the Warrington average is under 23 per cent.

Reception children in Culceth and Birchwood are more obese than in the rest of the town, data shows

However, both areas have fewer obese children by the time they reach the end of primary school.

Warrington's average for obese children at the end of primary school is 33.4 per cent - Birchwood and Culcheth both have lower figures than this.

In terms of reading, writing and mathematical skills at the end of primary school, Birchwood children are achieving significantly lower levels than their counterparts - less than 65 per cent are hitting the expected target for reading, writing and maths.

Meanwhile, Culcheth children are exceeding the target - 82 per cent of children are at the expected levels at the end of primary school; Warrington's average is 72.5 per cent.

Secondary school children in Birchwood aren't achieving as highly as those in Culcheth, the council says

Skip ahead to secondary school, and Birchwood ranks 16th out of 22 wards in Warrington in terms of pupils' progression and achievement.

Culcheth secondary school pupils are ranked as fourth in terms of progress, and seventh in terms of achievement.

Non-academically, there are significantly more children in Birchwood as being categorised as "in need" by the council than in Culcheth, Croft and Glazebury.

Warrington as a whole is ranked second in the North West for reading, writing and maths in children, as well as being ranked third in the North West for secondary school attainment.