Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School
Liverpool, L12 9HZ · Liverpool · secondary school
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18th of 30 secondary schools in Liverpool we can score, 33 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 2.9/10 against 719 of them, against 2.5/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 19 | 35% | 0.67 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 35.6 · 26 | 30% | 0.78 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.41 · 20 | 25% | 0.50 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 42.7 · 32 | 10% | 0.32 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 28.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 40.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.41 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (1.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.8 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in January 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join STEM, Chess, Bar Mock Trials, Music Technology, Dungeons and Dragons, Reading, Debate Mate, and Gaming Clubs. Sports include Basketball, Badmington, and Football. Arts and music options cover Choir, Jazz Band, KS3 Rock Band, Production Band, and School Play Rehearsal. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,338 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,394. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their Attainment 8 and
What Ofsted said about Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School
Overview
The report describes a school where leaders have created a "highly inclusive culture" and a "calm and respectful environment" rooted in Catholic values. While attendance and behaviour are rated at a "strong standard" with pupils feeling "safe and happy," academic attainment is currently at an "expected standard" with specific areas requiring attention.
Strengths
- Attendance is "above the national averages" and improves through targeted support for pupils with complex needs or long periods of absence.
- Pupils benefit from a "warm and welcoming atmosphere" where they "behave incredibly well" and feel valued by staff.
- Leaders provide "effective support" for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, ensuring they can access the "same ambitious curriculum as their peers."
- The personal development programme is "coherently mapped," helping pupils understand "fundamental British values," financial literacy, and online safety.
- Staff are "well supported to manage their workload," fostering a "strong sense of togetherness" and community.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure the curriculum is "taught consistently well across the school," particularly regarding the impact of assessment procedures, so pupils achieve well in all subjects.
- Leaders need to address "variable" attainment in national tests and areas of underperformance in post-16 subjects, although steps to improve literacy and numeracy are already having a "positive impact."
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 43.6 |
| 2024/25 | 40.9 |
| 2025/26 | 42.7 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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