Hillside High School

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.

Academically, Hillside’s results reflect a school working hard against the grain. Its Progress 8 score of -0.47 is classified as 'Below average' nationally, but it actually outperforms the Sefton local authority average of -0.59, placing it 5th out of 14 schools in the LA on this measure. Within the North West, it ranks 326th out of 445 schools. The Attainment 8 score stands at 35.1, and 44.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though this drops to 25.6% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 3.15, with 44.6% of pupils entering the EBacc combination and 16.5% achieving a grade 4 or above in it. In its 2023 Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good across all five categories — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management — a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2021.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a theatre, sports hall, astro turf, music rooms, and science labs, plus clubs like Model UN, Young Enterprise, and coding. Sports provision is broad, with rugby, netball, martial arts, and cross country among the options. Hillside has a comprehensive SEND offer, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs, which is important given the high proportion of pupils with additional needs. With 434 applications for 169 places, oversubscription is significant, so families need to apply early. This school will suit parents who value a Good-rated local option that has demonstrably improved its Ofsted grade and is making progress relative to its challenging intake, but they should be realistic about academic outcomes that remain below national averages.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Hillside High School

Helpful Guides for Parents