Sacred Heart Catholic Academy
Liverpool, L23 5TF · Sefton · secondary school
Check the area around this school
8th of 18 secondary schools in Sefton 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 — 5.4/10 against 577 of them, against 3.8/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 49.6 · 61 | 46% | 2.83 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.75 · 7 | 38% | 0.26 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.9 · 44 | 15% | 0.67 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Sacred Heart Catholic Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 38.2% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 42.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.75 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 (3.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.4 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils attend the Metamorphosis Theatre Trip, perform in the Cinderella Rock ‘n’ Roll panto, and visit the Plaza Community Cinema. Trips include Auschwitz and Krakow, Lourdes, Anfield with the LFC Foundation, Alton Towers, Haigh Hall high ropes, Escape Hunt Liverpool, John Moores University, and Southport Fair.
Getting in
The published school roll is 613 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,354. 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 Progress 8 score and national expectations? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Attainment 8 above the national median?
What Ofsted said about Sacred Heart Catholic Academy
Overview
The report describes a "very welcoming school community" where pupils are happy and staff care for their well-being. While the school is "ambitious for all pupils to succeed" and has begun addressing a "legacy of an inadequate curriculum," outcomes are currently inconsistent. The inspection notes that pupils "do not achieve as well as they should" because the curriculum is "not delivered consistently well," resulting in gaps in learning for some students.
Strengths
- Pupils benefit from "positive relationships with staff and their peers" and typically "behave well" in lessons and around the school.
- The school has "made reading a priority," developing effective systems to identify and remedy gaps in reading knowledge.
- Staff are "increasingly confident" in supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) following targeted training.
- There are now "more opportunities than before" for pupils to participate in a wide variety of extra-curricular sports, musical, and cultural activities.
- Leaders and governors are "united and effective" in their desire to ensure access to a "high-quality, broad and ambitious curriculum."
Areas to improve
- Teachers must be "fully equipped to deliver curriculum content consistently well" so that pupils know and remember important knowledge.
- Staff need support to "identify and address gaps in pupils’ knowledge" by checking understanding more rigorously before introducing new learning.
- The school should further develop strategies to work with families to "overcome the barriers to attendance" for pupils who do not attend regularly.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 38.4 |
| 2024/25 | 42.4 |
| 2025/26 | 44.9 |
| 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 L23 5TF, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT