Halewood Academy
Knowsley, L26 1UU · Knowsley · secondary school
Check the area around this school
4th of 6 secondary schools in Knowsley we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 3.5/10 against 392 of them, against 1.8/10 nationally. 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 | 16 | 35% | 0.55 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 32.3 · 19 | 30% | 0.57 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.47 · 17 | 25% | 0.43 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 39.8 · 19 | 10% | 0.19 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Halewood Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 37.7% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.47 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.7 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in May 2026 under the new report-card framework, which grades each area separately and gives no overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the STEAM Club and Humanities Club, and an after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,131 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,200. 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 current attainment and the national median? What specific areas did the May 2026 inspection highlight for improvement?
What Ofsted said about Halewood Academy
Overview
Halewood Academy is fulfilling the expected standard of education, with leaders having secured improvements to the curriculum, teaching, and behaviour since the last inspection. The report highlights that pupils now learn an "ambitious curriculum" well and that the school environment is "calm and purposeful." While achievement is in line with national averages, particularly for disadvantaged pupils, there are specific areas regarding independent learning and attendance that require further refinement.
Strengths
- Leaders have established clear systems to track progress and address learning gaps, ensuring pupils produce work of a "secure standard."
- Behaviour has improved significantly through "rigorous routines and high expectations," resulting in a calm school where bullying is rare.
- Effective support strategies, including targeted teaching and partnerships with external services, help pupils with special educational needs and disabilities access the same curriculum as their peers.
- The personal development programme prepares pupils for life in modern Britain, covering topics such as online safety and healthy relationships.
- Staff workload has been reduced, and leaders have forged positive relationships with parents and the wider community.
Areas to improve
- Staff must consistently take account of pupils' starting points to enable smoother transitions to independent learning activities.
- Leaders need to continue refining strategies to support pupils who are persistently absent so they can attend regularly and benefit from school.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where concerns are actively identified and managed to ensure pupils feel safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 38.9 |
| 2024/25 | 41.6 |
| 2025/26 | 39.8 |
| 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
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of L26 1UU, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT