Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School, Liverpool
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Cardinal Heenan is an exceptionally welcoming school that excels at supporting all pupils, particularly those facing barriers to learning. The school has created a calm, respectful environment rooted in its values where pupils thrive academically and personally. Staff invest genuine time in understanding each pupil's needs, removing obstacles to attendance, and ensuring every child feels valued and secure.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional attendance rates and behaviour, with strong pastoral support for vulnerable pupils
- Highly inclusive culture where all pupils feel valued and safe, with excellent support for pupils with additional needs
- Well-developed personal development curriculum covering life skills, careers, and cultural understanding
- Strong safeguarding culture with open communication and effective management of concerns
- Effective leadership that prioritizes staff wellbeing and builds strong community partnerships
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils' attainment in national tests remains below national averages in certain areas and post-16 subjects
- Assessment systems not being used consistently across all subjects
- Variable performance in published exam outcomes at post-16 level
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Tennis, board games, mentoring, sports, cooking, school performances, trips abroad, subject-specific associations, Careers in Cardinal sessions, Industry Day, work experience
Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School is a highly inclusive Catholic secondary school in Liverpool that prioritizes the wellbeing and support of all pupils, creating a calm and respectful environment where attendance and behaviour are significantly above national averages.
At a Glance
32.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
20.1
Avg class size
62
Total classes
10 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
96%
Near capacity
1,338 pupils
1,394 capacity
56 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Liverpool
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Liverpool
Admissions Demand - Liverpool
Places available
5,716
Applications
5,276
Got 1st preference
68.1%
Got preferred school
90.4%
Secondary admissions across Liverpool (2025/26)
Inspection History(19)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.59238%
Overall absence
22.40343%
Persistent absence
1,165
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School
Blackmoor Park Junior School
Blackmoor Park Infants' School
Knotty Ash Primary School
Blueberry Park
St Paul's and St Timothy's Catholic Infant School
St Paul's Catholic Junior School
St Margaret Mary's Catholic Junior School
St Margaret Mary's Catholic Infant School
Runnymede St Edward's Catholic Primary School
Mab Lane Junior Mixed and Infant School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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