The Blue Coat School
96%
Capacity
1,248
Pupils
2.8x
Demand
About The Blue Coat School
The Blue Coat School’s headline metrics stand out dramatically against the Liverpool local authority average. While the LA average Progress 8 score sits at -0.4, Blue Coat achieves a score of 0.77, placing it in the ‘well above average’ band nationally. That gap of over a full grade per subject is the widest in the city — the school ranks first out of 30 secondary schools in Liverpool and sits in the top 5% nationally. Its Attainment 8 score of 80.1 is similarly exceptional, and nearly every pupil (99.4%) enters the English Baccalaureate, with 93.9% achieving a strong pass in both English and maths. This is a school that consistently outperforms its local peers by a considerable margin.
Academically, the strength runs right through to sixth form. At A-level, pupils average an A- grade per entry, with a points score of 45.19 per entry. Over half (51.7%) of entries achieve at least AAB. The sixth form value-added score is 0.01, which is in line with expectations, meaning students leave with results that match their prior attainment. The school’s Ofsted rating is Good overall, with an Outstanding grade for behaviour and attitudes. Its most recent inspection in 2022 noted that leadership and management, quality of education, personal development, and sixth form provision are all Good. This is a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2012, but the inspection data shows no serious weaknesses — and the exam results suggest academic standards have held up well.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 178 places in 2025/26, there were 492 applications, with 232 putting it as first preference. That’s an oversubscription ratio of 2.76, so families need to be strategic. Facilities are strong — a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, science labs, and a dedicated sixth form centre. SEND provision covers a wide range, including dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. With 13.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school is more diverse than its results might suggest. Blue Coat suits families who want high academic expectations, a structured environment, and a broad range of extracurriculars — from DofE and Model UN to orchestra and debate — without the fee-paying price tag.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Church Road, Liverpool, Liverpool, L15 9EE |
| Headteacher | Kevin Sexton |
| Local Authority | Liverpool |
| Number of Pupils | 1,248 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 13.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,248 / 1,300 (96% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 18 Dec 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.77)
209th of 3,141
Nationally
22nd of 445
In North West
1st of 30
In Liverpool
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more 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
49.4
'22/23
47.4
'23/24
45.2
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2368%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 174 pupils).
- University (HE)68%
- Employment17%
- Not sustained8%
- Further education1%
- Apprenticeship1%
Source: DfE 16-18 destination measures, Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion. Russell Group / top-third HE breakdown not shown.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed178
492
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
232 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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- Asian48.6%
- White British29.9%
- Mixed6.2%
- White (other)4.9%
- Black1.6%
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
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
20
Total schools
18
Oversubscribed
13
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 The Blue Coat School
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
Church Road, Liverpool
Liverpool, L15 9EE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at The Blue Coat School!
Write a Review