Calderstones School Review 2026: Liverpool's Largest Comprehensive

When John Lennon walked through these gates in 1952, he named his first band The Quarrymen after the school's original name, Quarry Bank High School for Boys. Over a century later, the school that shaped a Beatle continues to educate thousands of young people in south Liverpool's Allerton neighbourhood, now as one of the city's largest mixed comprehensives. The 2023 Ofsted inspection awarded the school a Good rating, recognising how pupils feel genuinely cared for and bullying is handled swiftly. With nearly 1,600 students across 11-18, Calderstones balances its distinguished heritage with modern facilities, including a refurbished Science Wing, dedicated Arts Wing, and specialist sixth form accommodation in the Grade II listed Calder House. The school operates opposite Calderstones Park, within a catchment that draws families from across Liverpool's south side.

The physical campus tells the story of repeated renewal. The Victorian-era Quarry Bank House, built in 1867 for timber merchant John Bland, anchors the main site. Beside it stands Calder House, the former girls' grammar school with its period charm now adapted for sixth form study. The 2001 Private Finance Initiative refurbishment transformed outdated spaces into modern learning environments, though the old stone buildings remain visible reminders of the school's public school heritage introduced by founder R.F. Bailey.

The school's comprehensive nature is reflected genuinely in its intake and ethos. Students describe a place where diversity is celebrated. The school motto — Community, Empathy, Equality — appears throughout and staff actively reinforce these values. A recent Culture Festival drew 159 photographs, suggesting vibrant celebration of students' backgrounds. Pupils told inspectors that "you can always be yourself here," and staff consistently raised their expectations of behaviour and learning, with pupils rising to meet that challenge. Pastoral leaders work within a structured form tutor system, and the school operates a restorative approach to discipline rather than purely punitive measures.

Mr Lee Ratcliffe, headteacher since March 2017, brings 12 years of experience at the school, having risen through roles as Head of English and senior leader. His background in English Literature and teacher training at Lancaster shapes an academic leadership culture that values literacy and critical thinking. The school has maintained stable governance under Liverpool City Council, avoiding academy conversion while remaining committed to community education.

GCSE Performance

Calderstones ranks 2,068 out of 4,593 schools in England for GCSE outcomes, placing it in the middle tier of English secondaries (FindMySchool ranking). Locally, it ranks 18th among Liverpool's secondary schools. The Attainment 8 score of 43.5 reflects progress across a broad curriculum with mixed results across the ability range.

Progress 8 scores of -0.2 indicate that, on average, pupils make slightly below-average progress from their starting points — a context-dependent figure that reflects the comprehensive intake without prior selection. The school entered 18% of pupils for the English Baccalaureate, with 18% achieving grades 5 and above across the core subjects plus languages or sciences.

A-Level Performance

In the sixth form, students achieved 4% A*, 12% A, and 24% B grades, with 39% securing A*-B across entries. These figures sit below England averages (236% achieve A*-A nationally), though the sixth form serves a broad student body. The school ranks 1,733 out of 2,649 sixth forms in England, placing it in the lower half nationally (FindMySchool ranking).

The curriculum follows the national framework with meaningful breadth. Science receives particular emphasis following the school's Specialist Science Status award in 2001, a designation reflected in the dedicated Science Wing housing 15 laboratories and preparation rooms. Three music rooms and four art studios support creative subjects, while Computing benefits from six ICT suites within Quarry House. The Technology Wing contains 11 design and technology spaces, allowing practical learning across multiple disciplines.

Teaching follows clear structures. Staff hold high expectations across the ability range. Lessons emphasise skill development alongside subject content, with formal biannual assessments tracking whether students retain and can apply what they learn. English teaching prioritises oracy and deep reading, History uses primary sources and fieldwork, and Mathematics employs ability-based setting from Year 4 onwards in lower school context. The school's commitment to literacy extends across subjects, reflected in its Reading Quality Mark award.

Sixth form students access 24 A-level courses including Further Maths, Philosophy, Psychology, and Government and Politics, alongside T-Levels in technical fields. Core Maths is offered for those not pursuing A-level mathematics, and the Extended Project Qualification allows independent research. The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme runs throughout the school, with annual hiking and outdoor activities embedded into the enrichment calendar.

In the 2023/24 cohort, 54% of sixth form leavers progressed to university, 3% to further education, 5% to apprenticeships, and 16% to employment. One student secured a place at Cambridge, reflecting the school's work supporting aspirational applications. The school actively promotes university awareness through dedicated guidance, university visits, and the Applying to University page on its website.

The sixth form partnerships include local Russell Group universities and specialist institutions. Students access careers guidance through a dedicated CEIAG programme, with apprenticeship and higher education open evenings running throughout the year. The school publishes student destinations, encouraging transparency about progression outcomes.

The school's Experience Guarantee represents an ambitious commitment to equal opportunity in enrichment. All students receive at least one structured extracurricular experience per half term — whether attending a club, participating in a charity event, developing public speaking, visiting a museum, or joining outdoor activities. This deliberately inclusive approach, combined with PSHE reflection time, ensures no student is excluded from cultural engagement by cost or background.

Clubs and Societies

The full timetable of lunchtime and after-school clubs spans both traditional and unusual offerings: football stats club, foreign cinema club, debating, chess, coding, and photography all feature. The school prides itself on responding to student demand, regularly adding new clubs each term. Sixth form enrichment includes the CISI (Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment) course, providing financial literacy credentials beyond the curriculum.

Music

Three dedicated music rooms support a range of ensembles and lessons. Music GCSE and A-level students work toward performance qualifications. The school maintains a culture where instrumental learning is encouraged from younger years, with peripatetic teachers offering tuition across orchestral and popular instruments.

Drama and Performing Arts

The Arts Wing includes dedicated drama facilities alongside 21 classrooms housing the English and Modern Foreign Languages departments. Students perform at both key stage and sixth form level. Annual drama productions and participation in the school's performance calendar form part of the cultural offer.

Sports

The PE department operates eight distinct teaching spaces to develop sports competence: two gymnasiums, a main sports hall, dance studio, fitness suite, swimming pool, outdoor basketball and tennis courts, plus two on-site grass fields and an extensive off-site playing field. The Sports Leadership Academy at Year 10 trains students to lead primary and secondary sports events across Liverpool in conjunction with the Liverpool Schools Sports Partnership. Fixtures in rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis, athletics, and swimming develop both participation and competitive pathways.

Science and STEM

The Specialist Science status is evident in facilities and approach. The Science Wing's 15 laboratories support GCSE sciences taught as separate subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), with chemistry practicals and physics experiments integrated into teaching. Computing uses the ICT suites for programming and software design. A-level Further Maths appeals to students aiming for STEM university courses. Subject-based enrichment includes the annual stock market challenge run by the Business and Enterprise Department, engaging Year 9 students in financial literacy.

Trips and Experiences

Subject-specific trips complement classroom learning: Geography groups undertake fieldwork and planting activities, History students visit battlefields, and various departments lead specialist visits tailored to their curriculum. Business and Enterprise students participate in the stock market simulation. The annual Colomendy residential, first used in 1958, provides outdoor education experiences and team development for students across year groups.

Calderstones is a non-selective community school admitting pupils aged 11-18. In 2024, the school received 1,351 primary applications for 248 places, a subscription proportion of 5.45 times oversubscribed. Admissions run through the Liverpool Local Authority coordinated scheme. Entry at 11 is based on catchment proximity after looked-after children and siblings. The secondary application window typically opens in September for January deadline; use the FindMySchoolMap Search to verify your distance from the school gates and compare with typical last distances offered.

Sixth form entry at 16 requires five GCSEs at grade 4 and above, with specific subjects requiring grades 5-6 depending on the A-level chosen. Application is direct to the school rather than through the LA. Around 100-120 external students typically join the sixth form alongside internal progressions, maintaining cohort diversity.

School hours run 8:50am to 3:20pm. The swimming pool operates as a dedicated academy with separate management; interested swimmers should enquire directly. The school maintains a large campus situated opposite Calderstones Park. Accessible by Liverpool bus routes serving Allerton, the site also has limited car parking. Students' hand-held devices and systems support homework submission via Google Classroom and Go4Schools portals.

Each student is placed in a form tutor group of approximately 12-15, providing continuity from Year 7 through Year 9 (or into sixth form where applicable). Form tutors deliver PSHE and coordinate pastoral support. Senior leaders rotate pastoral responsibilities across year groups. The school actively tackles bullying through restorative practices, with pupils confident staff take concerns seriously. Parents of students with SEND receive positive feedback on support and communication.

A Bronze Mental Health Award reflects the school's investment in student wellbeing infrastructure. Counselling and peer support systems are available. The school's pastoral approach emphasises community responsibility alongside individual flourishing.

Oversubscription and distance. With applications at over five times the number of places, entry via standard admissions is highly competitive. Families must live within the last distance offered to secure a place, which varies annually based on applicant distribution. Those outside the immediate catchment should treat a place as uncertain regardless of preference and consider alternative provision.

Mixed-ability intake. Unlike selective schools, Calderstones serves the full ability range without entrance testing. Pupils arrive from diverse primary backgrounds with varied attainment on entry. The Progress 8 score of -0.2 reflects this; some high-attaining students may find pace below their preference, whilst others receive appropriate challenge at their level.

GCSE outcomes below national average. With Attainment 8 of 43.5 and Progress 8 of -0.2, results sit below England averages. University progression from the sixth form at 54% is modest. Families prioritising top exam outcomes might explore grammar schools or high-performing non-selective alternatives, while those valuing community comprehensiveness and inclusive ethos may find this trade-off acceptable.

Calderstones is a large, genuinely comprehensive school with deep historical roots and a commitment to educating the whole child. Heritage meets modernity in its physical spaces — the Victorian Quarry Bank House beside the refurbished Science Wing. The Ofsted Good rating reflects real strengths: pupils feel safe, behaviour is managed fairly, and staff genuinely care. The Experience Guarantee embodies an unusual commitment to equal cultural access, ensuring no student is left behind in enrichment.

Best suited to families within the tight catchment who value community schooling, inclusive ethos, and broad opportunity over selective academic selectivity. Those prioritising maximum exam achievement or seeking grammar-school level stretch should weigh alternatives carefully. For families seeking a mixed-intake, values-driven education in Liverpool's south side, Calderstones offers strong pastoral foundations and comprehensive curriculum breadth. The main challenge is securing admission.