Classpot

Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School

Liverpool, L12 9HZSecondaryAges 11–18BoysState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2023
Progress 8
+0.66
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.2×
Oversubscribed
218 1st-choice / 181 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#317 of 3,141 nationally

About Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School

Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School is a boys' secondary school in Liverpool that consistently punches above its weight academically. Ranked second out of 30 state secondary schools in the Liverpool local authority, it sits just behind The Blue Coat School and ahead of Archbishop Blanch CofE High School and King David High School. With a Progress 8 score of 0.66, the school is rated 'well above average' nationally, placing it in the top 10% of schools across England. Its strong performance is particularly notable given that the Liverpool LA average Progress 8 score is -0.4, meaning Cardinal Heenan's pupils make significantly more progress than their peers in other local schools. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 667 applications for 181 places, with 218 first-preference applications and 171 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.69.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderBoys
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressHoneysgreen Lane, Liverpool, Liverpool, L12 9HZ
HeadteacherKaren Smyth
Local AuthorityLiverpool
Number of Pupils1,324
Free School Meals (FSM)18.1%
School Capacity1,324 / 900 (147% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

8 Feb 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (8 Feb 2023): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 26 Jun 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Dining HallMusic RoomsSwimming PoolArt StudiosSixth Form CentreScience LabsICT SuiteChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

FootballRugbyRowingGymnasticsBasketballNetballCricketSwimming

Clubs & Activities

Duke of EdinburghBook ClubArt ClubChoirNewspaper

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School

Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.