A school that sets a clear tone from early years, with routines, reading, and behaviour treated as core learning rather than add-ons. The most recent inspection (21 May 2024) judged the school Outstanding overall and Outstanding in every graded area, including early years.
Academically, the published Key Stage 2 outcomes are well above England averages. In 2024, 82% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared with an England average of 62%; at the higher standard, 26% achieved greater depth compared with 8% across England. This is a school that combines attainment with a strong inclusion story, through nursery provision from age three and a specialist resourced unit for pupils with autism.
Freshfield Primary presents itself as a school of purposeful routines and explicit values. Its headline message, “Committed to Excellence; We inspire, grow and thrive together”, is reinforced by a mission statement focused on personal and academic excellence, with the child placed at the centre of daily decisions.
The latest inspection describes a calm, orderly learning culture supported by established routines from nursery onwards. A simple behavioural language runs through the school, helping even the youngest children understand what “ready, respectful and safe” looks like in practice. That clarity tends to reduce low-level disruption, which matters because it protects lesson time and makes classrooms feel predictable for pupils who need structure.
Leadership is highly visible in the school’s public-facing information. Hayley Ward is named as head teacher across school communications and statutory listings, and also sits within the safeguarding leadership team.
Nursery starts from age three and is described as local authority maintained, which usually signals a mainstream school nursery embedded into the wider setting rather than a stand-alone private provision. The practical implication for families is continuity, children can settle into routines and relationships early, then move into Reception with fewer “new setting” adjustments. Nursery fee details are published by the school, and should be checked directly via the nursery information pages.
Freshfield’s specialist resourced unit (Class 7) is a defining feature. The school describes provision for up to 20 primary-aged children with an autism diagnosis, and an Education, Health and Care Plan is required. Inclusion into mainstream lessons is described as personalised, where appropriate, which can be important for pupils who benefit from structured access to wider peer groups but still need a low-stimulus base.
Official documentation also references a larger specialist footprint: the 2024 inspection notes a 24-place SEN unit, and Sefton’s directory entry describes unit provision up to 28 children with autism. The sensible way to interpret this is that capacity and designation can vary by cohort structure and funding agreements, so families should ask how places are organised by class base (for example, The Hive, The Haven, The Hub) and what a typical mainstream timetable looks like for a child with similar needs.
The headline picture is strong attainment at the end of Key Stage 2, plus high average scaled scores in reading, maths, and grammar, punctuation and spelling.
A clear benchmark is the combined reading, writing and maths figure. In 2024, 82% reached the expected standard, compared with 62% across England. At the higher standard, 26% achieved greater depth, well above the England figure of 8%. For parents, that combination usually means two things: secure whole-cohort teaching, and meaningful stretch for higher-attaining pupils rather than teaching to the middle.
Reading, maths and GPS scaled scores are also high, at 108 for reading, 107 for maths, and 109 for GPS (where 100 is the national scaled-score reference point). Alongside that, 85% reached the expected standard in reading and 82% in maths, with strong proportions achieving high scores, 33% in reading and 24% in maths.
Ranked 2,089th in England and 15th in Liverpool for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), Freshfield sits above the England average, placing it comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England (25th percentile or better).
This level of performance tends to correlate with a clear curriculum sequence and strong assessment habits. The 2024 inspection supports that, describing careful curriculum sequencing and effective use of assessment to identify gaps and build knowledge over time.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
Reading, Writing & Maths
82%
% of pupils achieving expected standard
A useful way to understand teaching at Freshfield is to look at the “deep dive” subjects from the latest inspection: early reading, mathematics, history and computing. That selection tells you what inspectors scrutinised in detail, and it also hints at what the school prioritises as foundational skills.
Reading is framed as central to learning across the school and within the specialist unit. Text selection is described as deliberate, with books used not just for literacy skills but to widen knowledge and vocabulary. Phonics delivery is described as precise, with additional support to help pupils keep pace where reading is harder. The practical implication for families is that early literacy is likely to be systematic rather than left to chance, which matters because it shapes confidence in every other subject.
The school describes maths in ambitious terms, linking confidence in mathematics to problem solving beyond the classroom. Combined with high KS2 maths outcomes, that suggests a curriculum that expects fluency and reasoning, not just procedural competence. For higher-attaining pupils, the key question to ask is how stretch is delivered day-to-day, for example, extension tasks within class, grouped teaching, or participation in competitions through local partnerships.
The 2024 inspection highlights effective processes to identify and support additional needs, with staff adapting delivery so that pupils with SEND achieve highly. For families, this is the difference between “support available” and “support baked into lessons”. The specialist resourced unit adds a second layer of provision: a structured base for pupils who need it, plus planned access to mainstream where that supports social and academic goals.
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
As a Sefton community primary, transition to secondary is the standard Year 6 to Year 7 pathway, coordinated through local admissions arrangements. Most pupils typically progress to local Sefton secondary schools serving Formby and the surrounding area.
The bigger story at Freshfield is preparedness rather than destination branding. Strong attainment at Key Stage 2, fluent reading habits, and explicit behaviour routines usually translate into pupils arriving at secondary with the academic basics secure and the self-management skills to cope with a more complex timetable.
Families comparing local primary routes can use FindMySchool’s Local Hub pages to review KS2 outcomes side-by-side, then shortlist based on both results and practical fit.
Freshfield follows Sefton’s coordinated admissions for community schools, with offers allocated by the local authority. Reception intake is one-form entry, and Sefton’s admissions guide lists an admission number of 30 for 2026 entry.
Freshfield is oversubscribed on the numbers provided. For the Reception entry route, 113 applications were made for 30 offers, a ratio of 3.77 applications per place. In practical terms, this tends to mean that after priority groups are placed, distance becomes decisive for many families.
Sefton’s published historical admissions patterns reinforce that point. For 2025 entry, the furthest distance offered is listed as 0.486 miles (walking distance measure to the nearest school gate). Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.
Parents should use a precise distance tool, such as FindMySchoolMap Search, to understand how their home compares with the most recent distances, then treat any single-year figure as an indicator rather than a promise.
Sefton’s admissions information states that the closing date for primary applications is 15 January 2026. That is the key date most families need for Reception entry.
Freshfield nursery admissions are handled separately from Reception admissions, and families should check the nursery pages for the current process and session structure. If you are planning a nursery start using funded hours, note that government entitlements and term-start funding dates follow national rules and need early planning.
For the autism resourced unit, the school states that pupils must have an autism diagnosis and an Education, Health and Care Plan. Families considering this route should ask about the assessment process, the balance of specialist-base and mainstream access, and what happens at key transition points, especially Reception entry and the move into Key Stage 2.
Applications
113
Total received
Places Offered
30
Subscription Rate
3.8x
Apps per place
Pastoral support at Freshfield is closely tied to predictable routines, consistent expectations, and early intervention. The school’s Emotion Works programme is a concrete example, it uses a visual model (cogs) to teach pupils to understand feelings, triggers, regulation strategies, and later, intensity and influences in Years 5 and 6. The implication is a shared language for emotions that can reduce anxiety, support behaviour, and help pupils articulate what they need.
Safeguarding leadership roles are clearly signposted, and the 2024 inspection confirms safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Freshfield’s extracurricular offer is structured and specific, with detailed club timetables and clear staffing. The implication for families is that enrichment is organised rather than ad hoc, which matters if you rely on clubs for routine, confidence-building, or childcare wraparound.
Examples from the Spring timetable include:
Freshfield Choir, for pupils across classes, with performances at points through the year.
Mindfulness Club, aimed at developing self-awareness and emotional regulation through activities and strategies.
Creative Writing Club, where pupils explore authors and genres to produce their own writing.
Running Club, focused on stamina and speed through games and activities.
Table Tennis Club, described as an eight-week course (£24), with skills leading toward competitive play.
For pupils in specialist provision, the timetable also includes targeted clubs such as Class 7 multi-skills, aligned to fine and gross motor development.
The school day starts with gates opening at 8.35am for an 8.45am start, and finishes at 3.15pm.
Wraparound is a clear strength. Field Days (breakfast and after-school club) is offered from 7.30am to 6.00pm; pricing is published as £6 per breakfast session and £15 per after-school session.
Transport-wise, most families will be doing a walk, cycle, or short drive-and-drop. Because historical admissions distances are tight, many successful applicants are likely to live within a short radius, so walkability can be part of the practical “fit” alongside academic outcomes.
Competition for places. Reception entry is oversubscribed, and distance can be the deciding factor for many applicants. In 2025, the furthest distance offered was 0.486 miles. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.
Clarify specialist provision capacity early. Published figures vary across sources (resourced unit described as up to 20 pupils on school information; 24 places referenced in the 2024 inspection; up to 28 mentioned in a council directory listing). Ask how this translates into actual class groups and staffing for your child’s year.
High expectations can feel demanding for some pupils. The school sets exceptionally high standards for achievement and behaviour; that suits many children well, but families should consider how their child responds to structured routines and strong accountability.
Freshfield Primary combines high attainment with a clear, structured culture and a serious commitment to inclusion. The strongest fit is for families who want an academically ambitious state primary with predictable routines, systematic reading, and wraparound care that supports working days. It also stands out locally for families exploring autism-specialist provision within a mainstream setting, provided the resourced-unit pathway aligns with the child’s needs and the EHCP route.
Competition for Reception places is the practical constraint, so admissions planning needs to start early.
Yes, it has a strong quality signal. The most recent inspection (May 2024) judged the school Outstanding overall and Outstanding across all graded areas, including early years. KS2 outcomes are also well above England averages, with 82% reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024.
Reception applications are made through Sefton’s coordinated admissions. The published closing date for primary applications for September 2026 entry is 15 January 2026. If you apply after that date, your application is treated as late and you are less likely to receive one of your preferred schools.
Yes. Nursery provision starts from age three. Nursery entry is a separate process from Reception admissions, so families should check the nursery information pages for the current application route and session structure. Nursery fees are published by the school and should be confirmed directly.
Yes. The school describes a specialist resourced unit (Class 7) for primary-aged children with autism, and states that pupils need an autism diagnosis and an Education, Health and Care Plan. Families should ask how specialist-base learning and mainstream inclusion are balanced for pupils with similar needs.
Yes. Demand exceeds places on the published figures. Historical Sefton data also shows relatively short allocation distances in recent years, which suggests proximity can matter when the year is oversubscribed.
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