Schools by area › Knowsley › Saint Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Academy
Saint Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Sponsored academy
Cumber Lane, Whiston, Prescot L35 2XG · stedmundarrowsmithcatholicacademy.org · 0151 477 8770
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jun 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 30.2
- average Attainment 8 score. Knowsley 34.4, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.4
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 730
- 70% of 1,050 places
- Local authority
- Knowsley
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 48.9%
- First language not English
- 12.7%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 74 families put the school first and 193 places were offered; 100% 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 | 193 | 74 | 0.4 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 141 | 96 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 205 | 114 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 213 | 127 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 147 | 92 | 0.6 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 30.2, and 11.3% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Knowsley it was 34.4, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼30.2 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼11.3% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼34.6% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼29.3% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼2.46 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 135481)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 5.1 | +3.1 |
| Sixth form college | 14.4 | −7.3 |
| Further education | 61 | +9.7 |
| Apprenticeship | 1.7 | +0.4 |
| Employment | 2.5 | +1.8 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 10.2 | −4.3 |
| Activity not captured | 5.1 | −0.8 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Saint Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Academy on 30 June 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Needs attention
- Curriculum and teaching: Needs attention
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Needs attention
- Personal development and well-being: Needs attention
- Leadership and governance: Needs attention
- Inspected
- 30 Jun 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Needs attention |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Needs attention |
| Personal development and well-being | Needs attention |
| Leadership and governance | Needs attention |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Apr 2024
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 135481), which Ofsted links to this one.
September 2019 to November 2025
- Jul 2025Monitoring visitEffective action
Apr 2024Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective - Feb 2021Monitoring visitEffective action
Sept 2019Inadequate
Quality of education Inadequate Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Inadequate Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 135481)
Before September 2019
May 2017Inadequate
Outcomes for pupils Inadequate Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 135481)
Jan 2015Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 135481)
What parents said
8% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (25 replies, to 7 April 2025).
- Recommend
- 8%
- Replies
- 25
- 3% · 7 Apr 2025
based on the 92% who raised concerns
based on the 80% who had a child bullied
based on 12 parents (48%) with SEND