The Academy of St Nicholas
Liverpool, L19 5NY · Liverpool · secondary school
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19th 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.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 0.6/10 against 322 of them, against 0.3/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 21.2 · 4 | 30% | 0.13 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -1.27 · 1 | 25% | 0.02 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 35.2 · 6 | 10% | 0.06 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Academy of St Nicholas overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected in 2023. In 2024/25, 20.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 29.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -1.27 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. 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 the Student Council, Peer Mentoring, Charity / Volunteer Work, ASDAN, and Sports Leaders clubs. They may also participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Battle of the Bands, and trips to Sparks Liverpool.
Getting in
The published school roll is 841 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,080. 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 steps are taken to improve Progress 8 scores for students starting from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about The Academy of St Nicholas
Overview
The Academy of St Nicholas is a secondary academy where pupils benefit from a "broad and ambitious curriculum" and feel safe and happy. Leaders have transformed the school since the previous inspection, establishing high expectations for behaviour and achievement across all key stages, including the sixth form.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "at least as ambitious as the national curriculum," with learning organised coherently so new content builds on prior knowledge.
- Teachers generally have "secure subject knowledge" and check for gaps in understanding to help pupils catch up and progress well.
- Pupils enjoy a popular personal-development programme, the ‘curriculum for life’, which covers healthy relationships, diversity, and moral dilemmas.
- Leaders provide effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), ensuring they have access to high-quality information and additional help.
- Sixth-form students achieve well, supported by skilled teachers and a "well-chosen and broad range of subjects."
Areas to improve
- Some teachers do not use learning activities effectively to identify what pupils know, leading to "gaps or misconceptions in their learning." Leaders must ensure all teachers can identify when pupils are falling behind.
- A small minority of pupils do not follow routines during social times; leaders should ensure staff "consistently apply the school’s behaviour policy."
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with well-trained staff, robust monitoring systems, and close links with external agencies to support vulnerable pupils.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 27.8 |
| 2024/25 | 29.4 |
| 2025/26 | 35.2 |
| 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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