The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco, Bootle
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
The school has transformed its behaviour and culture, creating a respectful and supportive environment where pupils feel happy and safe. Staff provide consistently high-quality pastoral support that is particularly valuable for vulnerable pupils and those with special educational needs. The school is raising pupils' aspirations through enriching trips, a growing careers programme, and partnerships with local providers to help them make informed decisions about their futures.
Key Strengths
- Behaviour and school culture have been significantly overhauled, with pupils showing respect and kind interactions with one another
- Strong pastoral support helping vulnerable pupils engage with school and build trust in staff
- Leadership and governance are now unified and effective, with staff feeling valued and supported
- Early improvements in attendance for younger pupils and disadvantaged pupils
- Careers programme is expanding with trips to universities and careers fairs raising pupils' aspirations
Areas for Improvement
- Pupils' achievement in national examinations remains low, with many having gaps in prior knowledge particularly in spelling and mathematics
- Attendance among older pupils is still too low and is contributing to learning gaps
- Teaching quality is inconsistent across subjects, with some teachers not adjusting learning effectively in response to understanding checks
- Curriculum delivery is variable, with some pupils not given enough opportunities to practise and consolidate knowledge
- Personal, social, health and economic education is not embedded well enough, and pupils' understanding of British values and local politics is underdeveloped
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and acted upon.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh's award, reward trips, sports clubs, arts and drama activities, university visits, careers fair
The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco has made steady progress under new leadership, with significant improvements in behaviour and school culture. However, pupils' achievement in national examinations remains low, and there is inconsistency in how well the curriculum is taught across subjects.
At a Glance
52.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
110 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
25.7
Avg class size
20
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
Commute Calculator
Find out if this school is reachable from your home - before you apply
What are my chances?
Enter your postcode to estimate your probability of getting a place.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
96%
Near capacity
575 pupils
600 capacity
25 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Bootle
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Bootle
Admissions Demand - Sefton
Places available
3,299
Applications
2,940
Got 1st preference
85.0%
Got preferred school
95.8%
Secondary admissions across Sefton (2025/26)
Inspection History(6)
House Prices
Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost
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
12.41158%
Overall absence
35.54007%
Persistent absence
574
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco
Litherland Moss Primary School
Our Lady of Walsingham Primary School
St Robert Bellarmine Catholic Primary School
Springwell Park Community Primary School
St Philip's Church of England Controlled Primary School
Holy Spirit Catholic Academy
Netherton Moss Primary School
English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School
St Oswald's Church of England Primary School
St Elizabeth's Catholic Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
Do you work at this school?
Claim your profile free to get a verified badge, update your contact details, and see how many parents are viewing your page.