Sacred Heart Catholic Academy
About Sacred Heart Catholic Academy
Sacred Heart Catholic Academy in Sefton is a mixed secondary school with 653 pupils on roll, well below its capacity of 886, meaning there is room to grow. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 29.6%, which is significantly above the national average and suggests the school serves a community with higher-than-average levels of disadvantage. Despite the spare capacity, the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 247 applications for 146 places, with 154 of those as first preferences. That works out at 1.69 applications per place, a healthy oversubscription ratio, and 142 first-preference offers were made. The school’s Roman Catholic character likely drives some of that appeal, but the numbers also point to a school that local families are actively choosing, even if it isn’t yet full to the brim.
Key Details
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 EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Jul 2022Source: Ofsted, 25 Sept 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sacred Heart Catholic Academy
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Ofsted Ratings Explained
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SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
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Understanding School Catchment Areas
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