Notre Dame Catholic Academy
N/A
Capacity
991
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About Notre Dame Catholic Academy
Notre Dame Catholic Academy’s headline Progress 8 score of -1.4 sits well below the Liverpool local authority average of -0.4 for secondary schools, placing it 29th out of 36 schools of the same type in the area. That gap of a full point is significant: it means pupils here, on average, achieve nearly one and a half grades less per subject across eight GCSEs than students with similar starting points nationally. The school’s Progress 8 banding is officially ‘well below average’, and it ranks 435th out of 445 secondaries in the North West region. For context, the top-performing local schools like The Blue Coat School (0.77) and Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School (0.66) show what’s possible in the same authority. This isn’t a school that’s treading water — it’s one where academic outcomes are a clear area of concern, and the data suggests a systemic challenge rather than a blip.
Digging into the GCSE results, the picture remains tough. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 32.1, and only 40.2% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics 94 measure), compared with 21.2% at the higher grade 5+ threshold. The English Baccalaureate entry rate is low at 22.3%, and the EBacc average point score is 2.74. Progress is negative across every subject group: English (-1.36), maths (-1.45), the EBacc subjects (-1.51), and open subjects (-1.36). At A-level, the picture is more mixed. The school’s value-added score of 0.21 is positive, with a progress banding of ‘Average’, and the average points per entry (33.06) equates to a C+ grade. The best three A-levels average out at a B-, which suggests that the sixth form, though small with 35 pupils, is a relative bright spot.
On the ground, Notre Dame Catholic Academy offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, chapel, and art studios, plus sports like rowing, rugby, and hockey. There’s a decent club programme with drama, eco club, science club, and coding. The school is Roman Catholic by character, which may appeal to families seeking a faith-based secondary. However, with an Ofsted rating of Requires Improvement and a Progress 8 score that’s among the weakest nationally (3092nd out of 3141 schools), this is a school that will suit parents who are committed to supporting improvement from a low base, or who value the facilities and sixth-form value-add over headline GCSE outcomes. Oversubscription data isn’t available, but given the ranking, it’s unlikely to be heavily oversubscribed.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | 180 Great Homer Street, Liverpool, Liverpool, L5 5AF |
| Headteacher | Victoria Taylor |
| Local Authority | Liverpool |
| Number of Pupils | 991 |
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-1.40)
3092nd of 3,141
Nationally
435th of 445
In North West
29th of 30
In Liverpool
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
34.5
'22/23
29.7
'23/24
33.1
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2350%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 152 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)50%
- FE college26%
- Employment11%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Sixth form college1%
93% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2350%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 50 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
13%
Russell Group
13%
Top-third HE
3%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)50%
- Employment26%
- Further education8%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship4%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Sociology16
- English Literature9
- Biology6
- Mathematics6
- Geography5
- Art and Design4
- Art and Design (3d Studies)4
- Chemistry4
- History4
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Attendance & Behaviour
2023/2475% 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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
12
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
9
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 Notre Dame Catholic 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
School Open Days Calendar 2026/27
When open days happen and what to look for
Contact Information
180 Great Homer Street, Liverpool
Liverpool, L5 5AF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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