Halewood Academy
95%
Capacity
1,140
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About Halewood Academy
Halewood Academy is a popular choice among Knowsley families, with 255 first-preference applications for 234 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.74. Of those who put it first, 218 received offers, suggesting strong local demand. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management and sixth-form provision also judged Good. This marks a significant turnaround from its previous graded inspection in 2017, when it was rated Inadequate. The 2022 ungraded inspection confirmed the school remains Good. With 45.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the academy serves a community with above-average disadvantage, yet it continues to attract more applicants than it has places.
Academically, Halewood Academy sits second out of six secondary schools in Knowsley on Progress 8, with a score of -0.47. That is notably above the local authority average of -0.86, meaning pupils here make stronger progress than peers at many other schools in the borough. Attainment 8 sits at 38.9, and 43.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, dropping to 24.2% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 3.31, with 29.4% of pupils entering the EBacc suite of subjects. Progress in English is -0.32, while maths is weaker at -0.76. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom half on Progress 8, but within Knowsley it is a relative standout, outperforming Lord Derby Academy and Saint Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Academy.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and science labs, plus clubs such as Young Enterprise, coding, and eco club. Sports include gymnastics, netball, cricket, and martial arts. SEND provision covers eight areas, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. There is no sixth form, so pupils leave at 16. With oversubscription and a clear upward trajectory from its previous inadequate rating, Halewood Academy suits families in Knowsley who want a secondary that has improved significantly and now offers solid progress relative to the local average, though those prioritising top national outcomes may want to look further afield.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | The Avenue, Halewood, Knowsley, Knowsley, L26 1UU |
| Headteacher | Ian Critchely |
| Local Authority | Knowsley |
| Number of Pupils | 1,140 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 45.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,140 / 1,200 (95% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
17 Mar 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (17 Mar 2022): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 22 May 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.47)
2561st of 3,141
Nationally
323rd of 445
In North West
2nd of 6
In Knowsley
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/233%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 173 pupils).
- FE college71%
- Employment8%
- Not sustained7%
- School sixth form (stay)3%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Sixth form college2%
90% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
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
2025/26Oversubscribed234
406
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
255 families put this school as their 1st choice (63% 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 half 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.
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British89.8%
- Mixed4.1%
- White (other)2.5%
- Asian2.0%
- Black0.2%
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.
8
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
7
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 Halewood 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
The Avenue, Halewood, Knowsley
Knowsley, L26 1UU
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 Halewood Academy!
Write a Review