Classpot

Formby High School

Sefton, L37 3HWSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Nov 2022
Progress 8
+0.43
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.2×
Oversubscribed
200 1st-choice / 163 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#603 of 3,141 nationally

About Formby High School

Formby High School’s Progress 8 score of 0.43 places it well above the Sefton local authority average of -0.59, a gap of over a full grade per pupil that marks it out as the highest-performing secondary in the borough. In fact, it ranks first out of 14 schools in Sefton on this measure, and sits in the top 25% nationally. The school is also significantly oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 417 applications for 163 places, with 200 families listing it as their first preference. That level of demand makes sense given the results, but it also means competition for places is fierce — only 162 first-preference offers were made. The school’s attainment 8 score of 54.4 is strong, and 75.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, a key benchmark. With a capacity of 989 but 1,103 pupils on roll, Formby is operating above its official limit, which suggests the school is both popular and managing growth carefully.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressFreshfield Road, Liverpool, Sefton, L37 3HW
HeadteacherAlex Wood
Local AuthoritySefton
Number of Pupils1,103
Free School Meals (FSM)14.4%
School Capacity1,103 / 989 (112% full)
Sixth FormYes

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
See an example
One-off paymentNo subscriptionStripe checkout

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

2 Nov 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 12 Dec 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
Science LabsSixth Form CentreAstro TurfICT SuitePlaying FieldsArt StudiosSwimming PoolGymnasiumTheatreChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

19

Sports

RugbyBasketballCross CountryAthleticsDanceTennisBadmintonRoundersNetballFootball

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubOrchestraChoirBook ClubCodingNewspaperDuke of EdinburghYoung EnterpriseDebate

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

SEND Support

SEN Unit
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultySEN UnitOther

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

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About Formby High School

Formby 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.