The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco
89%
Capacity
532
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco
The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco’s headline Progress 8 score of -1.0 is significantly below the Sefton local authority average of -0.59 for secondary schools, placing it 13th out of 20 schools in the area. This is a stark contrast that parents will want to weigh carefully. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 31.1, and just 25.8% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, compared with a national benchmark that is typically higher. The proportion of pupils entered for the English Baccalaureate is low at 22.5%, and only 5.6% achieved it at grade 4 or above. These figures paint a picture of a school where academic outcomes are a serious concern, and the data places it in the bottom 50 nationally by Progress 8, ranking 3,021 out of 3,141 schools.
The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Inadequate overall, with leadership and management, and quality of education both judged Inadequate. Behaviour and attitudes were rated Requires improvement, though personal development was judged Good. This is a slight improvement on the previous inspection in 2019, which also rated the school Inadequate overall, but the trajectory remains challenging. Parent View responses from 110 families are notably positive: 97% would recommend the school, and 96% strongly agree or agree that their child is happy. Strong majorities also feel their child is safe (100% agree or strongly agree) and that the school has high expectations (96%). However, only 55% of respondents felt concerns are dealt with properly, and 61% said bullying was not applicable, making that data hard to interpret.
The Salesian Academy is a Roman Catholic secondary for pupils aged 11-16, with no sixth form. It is oversubscribed: for 120 places in 2025/26, it received 208 applications, with 87 first-preference offers. The school serves a community with high deprivation — 53.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Facilities are strong for a state school, including a swimming pool, theatre, chapel, and astro turf. SEND provision covers eight categories, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Social, Emotional & Mental Health needs, and 65% of parents strongly agree that SEND children get the support they need. This school may suit families who prioritise a supportive, faith-based environment and strong pastoral care, but the academic data and Ofsted rating mean it will not be the right fit for those seeking strong exam results.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Netherton Way, Bootle, Sefton, L30 2NA |
| Headteacher | Sue Bourgade |
| Local Authority | Sefton |
| Number of Pupils | 532 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 53.8% |
| School Capacity | 532 / 600 (89% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 Sept 2022Overall Effectiveness
Inadequate
Source: Ofsted, 23 Nov 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-1.00)
3021st of 3,141
Nationally
417th of 445
In North West
13th of 14
In Sefton
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.
Ofsted Parent View
110 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
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
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed120
208
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
87 families put this school as their 1st choice (42% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Source: thesalesiansacademyofstjohnbosco.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British77.1%
- White (other)3.8%
- Asian2.8%
- Mixed2.7%
- Black0.6%
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
2024/2575% 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.
13
Total schools
12
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco
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
Netherton Way, Bootle
Sefton, L30 2NA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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