Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic and Church of England Academy
38%
Capacity
363
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic and Church of England Academy
Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic and Church of England Academy in Halton has a clear story to tell about its academic outcomes, and it starts with a significant improvement. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2025, the school was rated Requires Improvement overall, but this marks a notable step up from its previous inspection in 2019, when it was judged Inadequate. The real headline, however, is the school’s Progress 8 score. At -1.37, this is well below the national average and places the school 7th out of 7 secondary schools in Halton. To put that in context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is -0.57, so the school is performing considerably behind its peers. Nationally, it ranks in the bottom 2% of all schools for this measure. The Attainment 8 score sits at 27.3, and just 6.7% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 34.8% at grade 4 or above.
Despite these headline figures, the Ofsted report highlights real strengths in areas that matter day-to-day. Behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management were all rated Good. This is a school that has clearly turned a corner in terms of culture and leadership, even if exam results have yet to catch up. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is very high at 58%, which is a significant factor in understanding the context. The school’s EBacc entry rate is 29.2%, and the EBacc average point score is 2.35. For parents looking at this school, the key question is whether the improving behaviour and leadership will translate into stronger academic outcomes in the coming years. The school is still a work in progress, but the direction of travel is positive.
The school is heavily oversubscribed for its 44 Year 7 places in 2025/26, with 93 applications and 43 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.11. It serves pupils aged 11 to 16 and has no sixth form. Facilities are strong for a school of its size, including a swimming pool, sports hall, theatre, chapel, and astro turf. There is a wide range of SEND provisions, covering dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, SEMH, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, and autistic spectrum disorder. Parent views are mixed: 56% would recommend the school, and 82% agree or strongly agree that their child is happy, but only 38% feel concerns are dealt with properly. This school will suit families who value the strong pastoral and behavioural improvements and the Christian ethos, but who are realistic about the current academic challenges.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England/Roman Catholic |
| Address | Grangeway, Runcorn, Halton, WA7 5YH |
| Headteacher | Alicia Freeman |
| Local Authority | Halton |
| Number of Pupils | 363 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 58.0% |
| School Capacity | 363 / 950 (38% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
25 Mar 2025Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Source: Ofsted, 8 May 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-1.37)
3090th of 3,141
Nationally
434th of 445
In North West
7th of 7
In Halton
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Ofsted Parent View
16 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed44
93
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
43 families put this school as their 1st choice (46% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British84.3%
- White (other)5.8%
- Mixed3.7%
- Asian1.5%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
13
Total schools
12
Oversubscribed
10
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic and Church of England Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Grangeway, Runcorn
Halton, WA7 5YH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic and Church of England Academy!
Write a Review