Classpot

Hillside High School

Sefton, L20 9NUSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Sep 2023
Progress 8
-0.47
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.2×
Oversubscribed
200 1st-choice / 169 places
Ranking
#2,565
of 3,141 nationally

About Hillside High School

Hillside High School in Sefton is a mixed secondary for 11 to 16 year olds that currently has 741 pupils on roll, well below its official capacity of 921. The school serves a community with a notably high level of disadvantage: 53% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, far above the national average. Demand for places is strong — for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 434 applications for 169 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.57 applicants per place. Of those, 200 were first-preference applications, and 151 first-preference offers were made. This level of interest suggests that local families see Hillside as a viable option despite the challenges its intake profile presents. The school has no religious character and does not operate a sixth form, so pupils leave at 16. Headteacher Amanda Ryan leads a school that has undergone a significant turnaround in its most recent Ofsted inspection.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressBreeze Hill, Bootle, Sefton, L20 9NU
HeadteacherAmanda Ryan
Local AuthoritySefton
Number of Pupils741
Free School Meals (FSM)53.0%
School Capacity741 / 921 (80% 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

19 Sept 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 17 Oct 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
ICT SuiteGymnasiumScience LabsTennis CourtsLibraryPlaying FieldsDining HallAstro TurfMusic RoomsSports HallTheatre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

16

Sports

RugbyMartial ArtsCricketHockeyCross CountryNetballGymnasticsRounders

Clubs & Activities

NewspaperOrchestraModel United NationsGardeningEco ClubDebateYoung EnterpriseCoding

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-SensoryOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:35 – 14:45

Source: hillsidehigh.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hillside High School

Hillside 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.