Phoenix Primary School, Liverpool

Ofsted's report card from its 22 September 2026 inspection grades Phoenix Primary School on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Overall, pupils' attendance is below the national average."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders are highly knowledgeable about the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a culture where staff are alert to any barriers to pupils' learning or wellbeing."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "The school has been through a turbulent and challenging time."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders provide a comprehensive programme to support pupils' personal development."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' attainment, including that of disadvantaged pupils, is consistently below the national average, particularly for 2024/25."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have a comprehensive understanding of the quality of the curriculum and teaching across the school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff identify and address gaps in pupils' foundational knowledge, particularly in writing, quickly and effectively"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils have sufficient opportunities to revisit prior learning so that their knowledge becomes more secure over time and they are better prepared for their next steps in education".

In its own words: "Phoenix Primary School is a welcoming and inclusive one-form entry community primary school serving children aged 3-11. At the heart of the school is a commitment to ensuring that every child feels safe, valued and inspired to achieve their full potential."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include choir and gardening.

In 2025, 45% of Year 6 pupils at Phoenix Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 27% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 72% and 70% in Liverpool and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 48% in reading and 33% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 19 families put Phoenix Primary School as their first choice and 40 named it as one of their preferences, for 26 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Phoenix Primary School are St Sebastian's Catholic Primary School and Nursery (0.2 miles, Outstanding, 69% reading, 69% maths); St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary and Nursery School (0.4 miles, Good, 97% reading, 90% maths); Heygreen Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 86% reading, 79% maths); and St Anne's (Stanley) Junior Mixed and Infant School (0.7 miles, Good, 70% reading, 72% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Phoenix Primary School.

44.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 54.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (38%), other ethnic groups (20%) and Asian (13%).

In 2026, 39 pupils (17.2%) received SEN support and 43 (18.9%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

Phoenix Primary School has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism and severe learning difficulties: 30 places, 30 pupils on roll.

Phoenix Primary School had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 28 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Wavertree Technology Park Rail Station, about 870 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is West Bank Road (adjacent), 130 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Phoenix Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 687 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and drug offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Liverpool (342), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Phoenix Primary School issued 10 suspensions, 4.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The secondary schools closest to Phoenix Primary School are King's Leadership Academy Wavertree (0.5 miles), The Academy of St Francis of Assisi (0.6 miles), Marydale Lodge Sch (0.8 miles) and Archbishop Blanch CofE High School (1 mile).