Sacred Heart Catholic Academy
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Sacred Heart Catholic Academy is a sponsored academy in Liverpool for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. It has 613 pupils and room for 1,354. About 37 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 9 out of 100. That puts it well below schools like it, ahead of 22% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was inspected 2024, no overall grade.
Liverpool Road, Crosby, Liverpool, L23 5TF0151 931 2971sacredheartcatholicacademy.orgMr Mark O'Hagan headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted's last full inspection was on 15 October 2024, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Not judged Between September 2024 and November 2025, Ofsted graded each area but stopped giving one overall word.
Results
GCSE results, summer 2025
170 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.
All GCSE measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022† | 2019† | 2018† | Sefton | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at the end of Year 11 | 170 | 177 | 192 | 194 | 215 | 209 | – | – |
| Average GCSE scoreAttainment 8 | 42.4 | 38.4 | 42.1 | 47.0 | 46.8 | 48.9 | 43.3 | 46.8 |
| Progress from age 11Progress 8 | – | -0.75 | -0.57 | -0.38 | -0.46 | -0.25 | – | – |
| Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths | 38% | 32% | 34% | 44% | 37% | 42% | 39% | 46% |
| Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths | 58% | 58% | 63% | 65% | 64% | 69% | 60% | 66% |
| Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score | 3.53 | 3.26 | 3.42 | 3.99 | 3.95 | 4.24 | 3.74 | 4.15 |
| Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry | 12% | 14% | 9% | 19% | 21% | 38% | 39% | 41% |
| Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged | 31.9 | 26.8 | 29.8 | 31.2 | 34.0 | 38.1 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged | 46.8 | 42.5 | 45.7 | 50.6 | 49.7 | 50.5 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers | – | 21.0 | 26.9 | 26.0 | 20.2 | 19.3 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers | – | 56.2 | 55.0 | 65.5 | 55.7 | 60.2 | – | – |
† These results are for Sacred Heart Catholic College, the school this one replaced in July 2022. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.
Subjects
Results came out for 17 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.
Subjects that did worse than the England average: Business (24% here, 51% across England), Religious Studies (41% here, 60% across England), Geography (36% here, 51% across England), Chemistry (68% here, 81% across England).
The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.
Every subject against England, 2025
| Subject | Entries | Grades 9 to 7 | Grades 9 to 5 | Grades 9 to 4 | England 9 to 5 | Rank in England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 164 | 13% | 45% | 68% | 53% | 2,072 of 3,211 |
| English Language | 164 | 17% | 51% | 68% | 54% | 1,745 of 3,210 |
| English Literature | 161 | 14% | 45% | 63% | 58% | 2,420 of 3,202 |
| Religious Studies | 158 | 13% | 41% | 56% | 60% | 1,557 of 1,825 |
| Combined Science | 132 | 11% | 30% | 49% | 36% | 1,835 of 3,084 |
| History | 102 | 18% | 49% | 58% | 52% | 1,679 of 3,126 |
| Business | 68 | 4% | 24% | 44% | 51% | 1,624 of 1,806 |
| Art and Design | 46 | 13% | 67% | 87% | 58% | 988 of 2,818 |
| Geography | 42 | 10% | 36% | 52% | 51% | 2,357 of 3,116 |
| Biology | 32 | 34% | 72% | 94% | 82% | 1,931 of 2,570 |
| Chemistry | 31 | 26% | 68% | 90% | 81% | 2,016 of 2,537 |
| Physics | 31 | 19% | 74% | 81% | 82% | 1,822 of 2,546 |
| French | 30 | 50% | 70% | 77% | 60% | 712 of 1,974 |
| Computer Science | 24 | 21% | 46% | 58% | 56% | 1,177 of 1,861 |
| Food Preparation & Nutrition | 21 | 14% | 43% | 57% | 52% | 709 of 1,098 |
| Design & Technology | 10 | 0% | 10% | 20% | 50% | – |
| Drama | 9 | 11% | 44% | 56% | 60% | – |
In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.
A level and sixth-form results, 2025
22 students finished sixth-form courses.
All sixth-form measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students | 22 | 55 | 75 |
| Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry | 25.00 | 27.07 | 29.28 |
| Average A level grade | C- | C- | C |
| Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS | – | 30.00 | 35.77 |
| AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects | – | 18% | 23% |
| A level progressA level value added | -0.14 | -0.27 | – |
| Applied general courses: points per entry | 23.29 | 25.64 | 28.42 |
| T levels: points per entry | – | 32.86 | – |
| Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed | – | 94% | 96% |
A level subjects
1 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.
Every A level subject against England, 2025
A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.
Does every child do well here?
A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 1 of the 3 gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.
At GCSE, 2025
Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.
Getting a place
Open to all. There is no entrance test. As a Roman Catholic school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.
699 places were empty (52% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in.
How places were given out for September 2025.
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (36), emotional and mental health (32), Specific learning difficulty (25), language and communications needs (8), Physical disability (5), Moderate learning difficulty (4).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 613 | 653 | 821 | 981 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 37% | 32% | 29% | 25% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 12% | 8% | 7% | 6% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 14% | 14% | 10% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 2% | 1% | 1% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 86.8% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22† | 2020/21† | 2018/19† | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 13.2% | 13.1% | 13.2% | 11.3% | 6.2% | 5.0% | 8.6% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 5.5% | 5.1% | 6.0% | 6.8% | 3.7% | 3.3% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 7.7% | 8.1% | 7.2% | 4.5% | 2.5% | 1.7% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 35.8% | 37.8% | 39.0% | 37.9% | 16.0% | 11.6% | 23.9% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 40.0 | 43.4 | 14.9 | – | – | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – |
† These attendance figures are for Sacred Heart Catholic College, the school this one replaced in July 2022. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.
What pupils do next
After GCSEs
Where the 192 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.
Among pupils from low-income families it was 81%, compared with 94% for everyone else.
After sixth form
Where the 75 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.
Among pupils from low-income families it was 75%, compared with 94% for everyone else.
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
Money
From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.
Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chesterfield High School | Academy | 0.8 miles | 1,692 | Good 2023 | 52 | Compare |
| St Michaels Church of England Academy | Academy | 0.9 miles | 547 | Inadequate 2024 | 0 | Compare |
| Holy Family Catholic High School | Roman Catholic | 1.1 miles | 1,012 | Not inspected | 33 | Compare |
| Litherland High School | Academy | 1.5 miles | 761 | Good 2024 | 19 | Compare |
| The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco | Academy | 2.1 miles | 575 | Report card 2026 | 7 | Compare |
| King's Leadership Academy Hawthornes | Free school | 2.3 miles | 708 | Good 2023 | 11 | Compare |
| Maghull High School | Academy | 3.2 miles | 1,098 | Report card 2026 | 5 | Compare |
| Hillside High School | Academy | 3.3 miles | 785 | Good 2023 | 23 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Sacred Heart Catholic Academy with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 9 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 9% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 6 to 12. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 20% | below | -0.12 | 2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 170 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | well below | -0.43 | Ofsted grade, 1.9 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | well below | -0.27 | DfE progress measure; 170 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | above | +0.06 | results and attendance rising year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | well below | -0.14 | 2024/25; 690 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | in line | -0.03 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 170 pupils |
| What pupils do next | 5% | in line | -0.01 | 192 pupils |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is Sacred Heart Catholic Academy a good school?
The figures are weak. Sacred Heart Catholic Academy scores 9 out of 100. That is well below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 22% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 6 to 12, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.
What is Sacred Heart Catholic Academy's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Sacred Heart Catholic Academy not judged at its last full inspection on 15 October 2024.
How good are Sacred Heart Catholic Academy's GCSE results?
In summer 2025, 38% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 42.4, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level.
How many pupils does Sacred Heart Catholic Academy have?
613 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,354 places, so it is 45% full.
Is Sacred Heart Catholic Academy oversubscribed?
Probably not. 699 places were empty in 2024/25 (52% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at Sacred Heart Catholic Academy?
Pupils were in school 86.8% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 36% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at Sacred Heart Catholic Academy?
The average class had 26.7 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 30% of classes had more than 30 pupils.
Does Sacred Heart Catholic Academy have a sixth form?
Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was C-. 1 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Liverpool Road, Crosby, Liverpool, L23 5TF
- Telephone
- 0151 931 2971
- Website
- www.sacredheartcatholicacademy.org
- Headteacher
- Mr Mark O'Hagan
- Type of school
- Sponsored academy (Academy sponsor led, academies)
- Phase
- Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic, Archdiocese of Liverpool
- Multi-academy trust
- Pope Francis Catholic Multi Academy Trust (7 schools)
- Local authority
- Sefton
- Ward
- Victoria
- Constituency
- Bootle
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 July 2022 (new provision)
- URN
- 149047 · LAESTAB 3434009 · UKPRN 10090328
- Formerly
- Sacred Heart Catholic College
Recent changes
- New KS4 results for 2024/25
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- GCSE results: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25 final.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, academy accounts return 2024/25.
- A level subjects: DfE A level and other 16 to 18 results, subject entries and grades, 2024/25.
- Admissions outcomes: Sefton council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2023, 2024, 2025.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.