Saint Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Academy
72%
Capacity
757
Pupils
1.5x
Demand
About Saint Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Academy
Saint Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Academy is a popular choice among local families, with 96 first-preference applications for 141 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, resulting in an oversubscription ratio of 1.46. This suggests that while the school is oversubscribed, a significant number of applicants do secure a place. However, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024 rated it as Requires Improvement across all categories, including leadership, behaviour, and personal development. This marks an improvement from its previous inspection in 2019, when it was rated Inadequate overall. The school serves a community with high levels of disadvantage, with 48% of pupils eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Parents considering the school will want to weigh its popularity against the ongoing work needed to raise standards.
Academically, the school's performance is significantly below average. Its Progress 8 score of -1.01 places it in the bottom 50 nationally, ranking 3026 out of 3141 schools. This means pupils achieve, on average, one grade lower per subject than their peers nationally. The Attainment 8 score of 31.5 is low, and only 16.9% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics 95 measure). The school's EBacc average point score of 2.64 is also weak, with just 3.4% of pupils entering the full EBacc. Within Knowsley, the school ranks 4th out of 6 secondary schools, with a Progress 8 score that is below the local authority average of -0.86. The strongest relative performance is in English (Progress 8 of -0.61), while maths (-1.19) and the EBacc subjects (-1.17) are particular areas of weakness.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including tennis courts, a swimming pool, astro turf, and a chapel, alongside clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, and coding. Sports on offer include rowing, rugby, and dance. For pupils with special educational needs, the school supports a wide range of needs including dyslexia, autism, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. There is no sixth form, so pupils must plan for post-16 education elsewhere. This school will suit families who value a Catholic ethos and are comfortable with a school that is in the process of improvement, but those prioritising strong academic outcomes may want to look at higher-performing local options such as All Saints Catholic High School or Halewood Academy.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Cumber Lane, Prescot, Knowsley, L35 2XG |
| Headteacher | Lee Peachey |
| Local Authority | Knowsley |
| Number of Pupils | 757 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 48.0% |
| School Capacity | 757 / 1,050 (72% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
17 Apr 2024Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Source: Ofsted, 16 May 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-1.01)
3026th of 3,141
Nationally
418th of 445
In North West
4th of 6
In Knowsley
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed141
206
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
96 families put this school as their 1st choice (47% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
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.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British84.5%
- Asian5.0%
- White (other)2.6%
- Mixed2.5%
- Black0.4%
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.
9
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
8
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Saint Edmund Arrowsmith 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
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
Cumber Lane, Prescot
Knowsley, L35 2XG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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