March 1 marks National Offer Day, when parents and children across the region find out where they will begin their secondary school journey.
A joyus day for many, it can also be a stressful day for some parents or carers, with their children not being accepted into their first choice school.
However, if your child is not offered a place at any of the preferred schools listed on your application, the council will offer places at alernative schools.
So to help with deciding on an alternative school, or to see how your child’s soon-to-be institution ranks against others, we’ve complied a list of the highest and lowest rated secondary schools in Liverpool.
The schools below have received the lowest ratings, ranked ‘requires improvement’ and ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted, up to March 2023.
Grades are based on overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviours and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
However, if your child is not offered a place at any of the preferred schools listed on your application, the council will offer places at alernative schools.
5. Notre Dame Catholic College - Requires Improvement
Published in July 2022, the Ofsted report for Notre Dame Catholic College reads: “Notre Dame Catholic College is a warm, welcoming school at the heart of the
community. Pupils embrace the school’s mission to open hearts, minds and doors to
every member of the Notre Dame family.
Leaders are highly ambitious for all pupils. In recent years, leaders have quickly
improved the school. Pupils recognise that the quality of education they receive is
better than in the past. However, further curriculum development is needed in some
subjects in key stage 4 and in the sixth form. Consequently, in some subjects, pupils
and students do not achieve as well as they should.”
6. St Edward’s College - Requires Improvement
Published in January 2023, the Ofsted report for St Edward’s College states: “Pupils and students feel safe and are proud of their school. Leaders have high expectations of pupils’ behaviour. In the main, pupils behave well in lessons and at social times. When bullying is reported, staff deal with it promptly and effectively. That said, some pupils are subjected to derogatory and discriminatory language from other pupils which, on some occasions, they do not feel comfortable to report. Consequently, this type of behaviour is not improving."
7. St Francis Xavier’s College - Requires Improvement
Published in November 2021, the Ofsted report for St Francis Xavier’s College states: “Leaders have raised their expectations of pupils’ behaviour. Most pupils respect each
other and their teachers. Consequently, pupils learn without interruption in most
lessons. However, a small minority of pupils disrupt learning. Most pupils behave in a
calm and orderly way around the school. However, some pupils behave in a
boisterous way in some buildings during breaktimes. Students in the sixth form are
mature and behave extremely well.
All pupils who spoke with inspectors said that they feel safe. They told inspectors
that there is always someone who will listen to them and take them seriously if they
have any concerns or worries. Most pupils are confident that staff would deal with
bullying quickly if it should happen.”
8. St Margaret’s Church of England Academy - Requires Improvement
Published in November 2021, the Ofsted report for St Margaret’s Church of England Academy reads: “Pupils spoke enthusiastically about their ‘learning for life’ lessons. They said that
these lessons provide them with a greater understanding of issues such as the role
of women in society and discrimination. They enjoy the range of extra-curricular
activities available to them. Sixth-form students benefit from a similarly high-quality
enrichment programme.
Leaders have raised their expectations of what pupils can and should achieve at St
Margaret’s. Despite recent improvements to the curriculum, inspectors found that
pupils experience an uneven quality of education between different subjects,
including in the sixth form. Consequently, not all pupils achieve as well as they
should.”
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.