Kirkby High School
Liverpool, L32 9PP · Knowsley · secondary school
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3rd 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 — 0.9/10 against 181 of them, against 0.4/10 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 | 52 | 35% | 1.83 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 24.1 · 7 | 30% | 0.21 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -1.63 · 0 | 25% | 0.01 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 34.8 · 5 | 10% | 0.05 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Kirkby High School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted (inspected 2022-10). In 2024/25, 20.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 31.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -1.63 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than the national average for similar starting points. 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 (0.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.2 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Chess, Jigsaw, History Film, Warhammer, Craft and Crochet, Geography, Rainbow, and STEM Science clubs. Sports include Basketball, Netball, Dodgeball, Football, Badminton, This Girl Can, Gym, and Soft Ball. Arts and music options feature Dance Team, Drama, Book Club, Debate, French, Culture, and Dungeons and Dragons clubs. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,042 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,000. 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 manage class
What Ofsted said about Kirkby High School
Overview
Kirkby High School is described as a "calm and welcoming place" where pupils feel happy, safe, and proud of their environment. The report highlights that leaders have overseen significant improvements since the previous inspection, resulting in a broad, ambitious curriculum and strong relationships between staff and pupils.
Strengths
- Pupils enjoy a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities, including drama and sports, which "broaden their horizons and deepen their understanding of the world."
- The curriculum is "well organised" in many subjects, with teachers effectively checking for gaps in knowledge and adapting teaching to help pupils recover missed learning.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are "fully included in the life of the school" and achieve well, supported by quick identification of needs and adapted access to learning.
- The personal development programme prepares pupils well for the future, covering healthy relationships, consent, and the negative impact of prejudice.
- Trustees and governors hold leaders to account successfully, while leaders take account of staff workload and well-being.
Areas to improve
- In a small number of subjects, particularly where leaders are newly appointed, curriculum thinking is not strong enough; leaders must ensure these subject leaders are trained to develop the curriculum effectively.
- Some pupils struggle to read, which hinders their achievement; leaders should continue to develop the reading skills of these pupils to help them become confident and fluent readers.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a "strong culture of safeguarding" where adults are alert to concerns and report them in a timely manner.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 29.2 |
| 2024/25 | 31.4 |
| 2025/26 | 34.8 |
| 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
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