St John Bosco Arts College
Croxteth, L11 9DQ · Liverpool · secondary school
Check the area around this school
22nd 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.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 2.9/10 against 313 of them, against 1.4/10 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 | 12 | 35% | 0.41 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 26.3 · 9 | 30% | 0.28 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.47 · 17 | 25% | 0.43 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 40.1 · 20 | 10% | 0.20 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St John Bosco Arts College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 19.5% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 39.4, 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 (2.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.1 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in March 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Faith in Action, cheerleading, dance, and choir.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,086 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,064. 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 new Ofsted report card detail the quality of teaching in specific subjects? What support is available for pupils aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about St John Bosco Arts College
Overview
St John Bosco Arts College is described as a "welcoming and caring community" where pupils feel safe and valued. While safeguarding standards are met and behaviour is generally positive, the report identifies that teaching quality is inconsistent and overall pupil achievement remains below national averages.
Strengths
- Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are actively identified and managed.
- Pupils demonstrate "positive relationships with staff," respect diversity, and behave well with "few examples of low-level disruption."
- Leaders provide effective support for vulnerable pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), using a "team around the child" model.
- The personal development programme is "carefully designed," offering high-quality pastoral care, careers advice, and a wide range of enrichment activities.
- Post-16 provision is well-designed, with vocational students making progress "above the national average."
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure teachers routinely check pupils' understanding to address knowledge gaps and improve attainment.
- Pupils require "appropriate and challenging activity choices" matched to their prior learning to deepen understanding.
- Leaders should continue efforts to improve attendance, particularly for pupils with SEND.
Safeguarding
The report states that "safeguarding standards are met," noting that leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 39.7 |
| 2024/25 | 39.4 |
| 2025/26 | 40.1 |
| 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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