Bishop David Sheppard Church of England Primary School

About Bishop David Sheppard Church of England Primary School

Bishop David Sheppard Church of England Primary School in Sefton was rated Good across all five categories in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, a rating it has held consistently since its previous graded inspection in 2012. The school’s most telling academic metric is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined at Key Stage 2, which stands at 35 per cent. This is significantly below the Sefton local authority average of 59 per cent, placing the school 54th out of 59 primary schools in the borough. Broken down by subject, 55 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in reading and writing, and 50 per cent in maths. At the higher standard, 25 per cent of pupils achieved above the expected level in reading, 10 per cent in maths, and none in writing or across all three subjects combined. The school’s average scaled scores were 104 in reading and 102 in maths.

The school’s Ofsted report notes that behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and the quality of education are all Good. The early years provision is also rated Good. With 208 pupils on roll against a capacity of 205, the school is effectively full. It is oversubscribed for Reception places in 2025/26, receiving 23 applications for 16 places, with all 16 first-preference applicants offered a place. The school serves a community with high levels of disadvantage, with 44.1 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, more than double the national average. This context is important when interpreting the school’s academic outcomes, as schools with high levels of deprivation often face additional challenges in achieving top-line results.

Bishop David Sheppard is a Church of England primary school for children aged 2 to 11, with a nursery on site. Facilities include an outdoor playground, playing fields, a forest school area, art studios, music rooms and a chapel. The school offers a range of sports including football, cricket, netball and tennis, and runs clubs such as coding, eco club, art club, choir and science club. It has a strong SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a school that may particularly suit families looking for a small, faith-based setting with a broad extracurricular programme and a clear commitment to supporting children with additional needs, though parents should weigh the academic outcomes against the local context.

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