Schools by area › Sefton › Holy Family Catholic High School
Holy Family Catholic High School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Voluntary aided
Virgins Lane, Thornton, Liverpool L23 4UL · holyfamilyhighschool.co.uk · 0151 924 6451
Overview
- Ofsted
- Standards maintained
- Ungraded inspection · Oct 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 44.8
- average Attainment 8 score. Sefton 42.9, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.7
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,012
- 143 over 869 places · 116%
- Local authority
- Sefton
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 26.8%
- First language not English
- 2.3%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 250 families put the school first and 147 places were offered; 57% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 147 | 250 | 1.7▲ | 57% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 153 | 264 | 1.7▲ | 57% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 164 | 240 | 1.5▲ | 67% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 164 | 219 | 1.3▲ | 70% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 151 | 210 | 1.4▲ | 69% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 44.8, and 44.2% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Sefton it was 42.9, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C (30.7 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●44.8 | 46.0 | ||
| ●44.2% | 45.4% | ||
| ●62.8% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼11.6% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.70 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 46.5 | −6.3 |
| Further education | 35.2 | +5.6 |
| Other education | 1.9 | −1.2 |
| Apprenticeship | 3.1 | −0.7 |
| Employment | 1.9 | 0 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 8.2 | +4.4 |
| Activity not captured | 3.1 | +2.5 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65 students | C (30.7) | Below average -0.36 | |
| 65 students | C (30.8) | Below average -0.33 | |
| 91 students | Dist- (31.9) | Above average +0.17 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 46 | C (29) | -0.33 |
| 2022/23 | 45 | C (28.9) | — |
| 2021/22 | 58 | B- (36.9) | — |
| 2018/19 | 26 | C (30.9) | -0.47 |
| 2017/18 | 46 | C+ (33.8) | -0.12 |
| 2016/17 | 36 | C- (25.4) | -0.05 |
| 2015/16 | 65 | C- (27.9) | -0.14 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 65.7 | −1 |
| Apprenticeship | 5.7 | −0.7 |
| Employment | 21.4 | +3.5 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.7 | +0.6 |
| Activity not captured | 1.4 | +0.1 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 9 October 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for Holy Family Catholic High School was: Standards maintained.
- Outcome
- Standards maintained
- Inspected
- 8 Oct 2024
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, May 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
May 2019Good
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Feb 2017Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Nov 2012Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good
What parents said
95% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (146 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 95%
- Replies
- 146
- 14% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 73% who raised concerns
based on the 24% who had a child bullied
based on 42 parents (29%) with SEND