St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy
St. Helens, WA11 9BB · St. Helens · secondary school
Check the area around this school
6th of 9 secondary schools in St. Helens 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 — 5.8/10 against 337 of them, against 3.5/10 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 | 34.3 · 23 | 46% | 1.07 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.05 · 46 | 38% | 1.78 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 45.1 · 45 | 15% | 0.69 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 27.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 42.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.05 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly 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 (5.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.9 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Book Club and play Rugby, Athletics, Football, Rounders, Indoor athletics, or Netball. An after-school club is also available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 549 pupils against a stated capacity of 750. 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 support is available for students who need to improve their Progress 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy
Overview
Pupils are described as “happy and proud” to attend, embracing values of “aspiration, belief and compassion.” The school delivers a “broad and ambitious curriculum” where teachers use strong subject knowledge to help pupils build knowledge over time. Inspectors note that current work shows pupils are “successfully building learning,” though past results do not yet reflect this improvement.
Strengths
- Pupils forge “strong relationships with staff” based on mutual respect and exhibit high self-belief.
- Teachers are “adept at spotting gaps in knowledge” and swiftly remedy misconceptions.
- Reading is “front and centre,” with effective support helping pupils with gaps to catch up.
- Attendance rates have decreased due to “effective strategies” and a climate where most pupils want to learn.
- Personal development prepares pupils for life in modern Britain, fostering empathy and safety awareness.
Areas to improve
- Information for staff about pupils with SEND is “sometimes too generic,” limiting their ability to tailor teaching effectively.
- A “small minority of pupils” do not behave well, negatively impacting their achievement; strategies for supporting these pupils require review.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 45.0 |
| 2024/25 | 42.6 |
| 2025/26 | 45.1 |
| 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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