Notre Dame Catholic Academy Review 2026: Faith, Community, and Transition

Situated on Great Homer Street in the Everton district of Liverpool, Notre Dame Catholic Academy stands as a significant landmark in the city’s educational landscape. Known locally as Notre Dame Catholic College, the school occupies a modern, purpose-built facility that replaced its historic home in 2013. The architecture reflects a desire for openness, centred around a vast atrium that serves as the heartbeat of the school.

The school is part of the St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust, having converted to academy status recently. It serves a diverse catchment in North Liverpool, an area with a proud history but significant economic challenges. The school’s identity is inextricably linked to its founding by the Sisters of Notre Dame, and the Catholic ethos remains the defining characteristic of daily life.

Currently rated Requires Improvement, the school presents a mixed picture. While demand for places is high, with the school heavily oversubscribed, academic outcomes at GCSE have faced significant challenges. However, the Sixth Form tells a different story, offering a solid post-16 pathway that performs closer to national norms. For parents, the choice here is often driven by faith, the modern environment, and the strong pastoral safety net rather than raw examination tables.

Opening hearts, minds and doors is the motto that runs through the school's literature, and the physical environment attempts to mirror this. The move from the Victorian red-brick convent to the current glass-and-steel structure marked a shift in culture as well as location. The building is designed to be visible and communal; classrooms often have glass walls, and the central marketplace acts as a social hub, dining hall, and assembly space.

Mrs Victoria Taylor, the Headteacher, leads a staff body that views teaching as a vocation as much as a profession. The atmosphere is distinctively Catholic. A chapel sits at the physical and spiritual centre of the building, and the liturgical year shapes the school calendar. Mass is celebrated regularly, and the school chaplaincy plays a visible role in supporting students and staff.

For visitors, the scale of the atrium can be striking. It creates a sense of community but also presents acoustic challenges that require disciplined behaviour management. The school prides itself on being inclusive, welcoming students from a wide range of backgrounds, including a significant number for whom English is an additional language. This diversity contributes to a vibrant, albeit busy, atmosphere where the "family" ethos is frequently cited by staff and students alike.

The academic data at Notre Dame Catholic Academy requires careful reading, as there is a sharp divergence between the main school and the Sixth Form.

At GCSE, performance has struggled. In 2024, the school recorded an average Progress 8 score of -1.4. This figure indicates that, on average, students achieved nearly one and a half grades lower across their subjects than students with similar starting points nationally. The average Attainment 8 score was 32.1, compared to the England average of 45.9.

Performance in the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) reflects this trend, with 7.3% of pupils achieving a grade 5 or above, against an England average of roughly 17%. These figures highlight that for academically high-flying students, or those reliant on top grades for selective university entry, the main school curriculum has faced delivery challenges.

However, the Sixth Form offers a brighter narrative. In 2024, A-level students achieved results that sit much closer to the national picture. Approximately 45% of grades were A*-B, and the school ranks 1425th in England for A-level outcomes. This places the Sixth Form in the "national typical" band, suggesting that for students who stay the course, the post-16 provision delivers solid, respectable outcomes that enable progression to university.

The curriculum is broad, designed to cater to a comprehensive intake. Key Stage 3 covers the National Curriculum with a heavy emphasis on core subjects, but the school also champions the arts. The presence of the Resonate Music Hub on site means that music tuition is a genuine strength, with opportunities that exceed what is found in many state secondaries.

Teaching quality varies, a factor noted in inspection reports. In the Sixth Form, subject expertise is evident, and smaller class sizes allow for more seminar-style learning. In the main school, the challenge has been consistency. Leaders have introduced new frameworks to standardise lesson planning and behaviour management, aiming to reduce low-level disruption and ensure that the transparency of the glass-walled classrooms translates into focused learning.

Support for students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) is a priority. The learning support department is active, and the school’s inclusive mission means that resources are directed towards those who need the most help to access the curriculum.

Destinations data suggests that the school is effective at guiding students onto their next steps, even if GCSE grades are lower than average. A strong careers programme ensures that Year 11 students have clear pathways, whether into the school’s own Sixth Form, local colleges, or apprenticeships.

For Sixth Form leavers, university remains a popular route. The school has a track record of supporting students into local universities, with a steady stream progressing to Liverpool John Moores, Hope University, and the University of Liverpool. While the number of Oxbridge acceptances is small, the school celebrates every success, and students with potential are encouraged to apply to Russell Group institutions.

Despite the academic challenges, Notre Dame Catholic Academy remains a popular choice in North Liverpool. The school is consistently oversubscribed. In the most recent intake, there were 469 applications for just 175 places, resulting in a subscription ratio of nearly 2.7 applications per place.

This demand is driven largely by the school’s Catholic character and its location. Admissions criteria prioritise looked-after children, followed by baptised Catholic children living in designated parishes. The school requires a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) to evidence faith practice. For families living in Everton, Anfield, and surrounding areas, the school represents a community hub that aligns with their values.

Parents should be aware that distance plays a crucial role after faith criteria are applied. While the exact last distance offered varies annually, the density of the local Catholic population means that living near the school does not guarantee a place unless the faith criteria are met.

The pastoral system is the engine room of the school. Organised into year groups, each student has a Form Tutor and a Head of Year who monitor their wellbeing. The school’s Catholic mission means that pastoral care is viewed through a spiritual lens; every child is considered unique and made in the image of God.

Bullying is taken seriously, with clear reporting lines. The school employs learning mentors and works with external agencies to support students facing difficulties outside of school. For many families, this wrap-around care is the school’s defining feature. The "Opening Doors" aspect of the motto is evident in how the school supports vulnerable families, often going beyond the remit of education to ensure students are fed, clothed, and ready to learn.

Extracurricular life is anchored by music and faith. The Resonate Music Hub partnership provides students with access to instrumental lessons, choirs, and ensembles that perform across the city. The annual school production is a highlight, utilising the performance spaces within the modern building.

Sport is also central to school life. The facilities include a sports hall and outdoor pitches, with teams competing in local leagues for football and netball. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is offered, giving students the chance to build resilience and teamwork skills on expeditions.

Faith-based activities are plentiful. The chaplaincy team runs retreats, charity fundraisers, and prayer groups. Students are encouraged to look outwards, raising money for CAFOD and local food banks, reinforcing the school’s service-oriented values.

This is a state school with no tuition fees.

While education is free, parents should budget for uniform, sports kit, and optional school trips. The school works hard to keep these costs manageable and provides support for families eligible for Pupil Premium. Music tuition via the Resonate Hub may incur charges, though subsidies are often available for eligible families.

The school day begins at 8:45 am and concludes at 3:00 pm. Breakfast is available from 8:00 am in the dining hall, providing a social start to the day. The location on Great Homer Street ensures excellent transport links, with numerous bus routes stopping directly outside the school.

Uniform is strictly enforced as a sign of belonging and pride. The blazer, tie, and tailored trousers or skirts are standard, and parents are supported to ensure costs remain reasonable.

Academic Outcomes. The primary caution for any parent is the GCSE performance. With a Progress 8 score of -1.4, the school is currently underperforming significantly in state examinations. Families seeking top-tier academic results will need to weigh this data carefully against other factors.

Requires Improvement Status. The school is on a journey of improvement. While the Trust and leadership are implementing changes, the "Requires Improvement" rating reflects genuine inconsistencies in provision that may take time to fully resolve.

Catholic Ethos. The faith character is not optional; it is woven into the fabric of the school. Families from other faiths or none are welcome, but they must be comfortable with their children participating in Catholic worship and religious education.

Oversubscription. Despite the challenges, getting in is not easy. The high number of applications means that families relying on this school as a local option must ensure they meet the criteria, particularly regarding the Supplementary Information Form.

Notre Dame Catholic Academy is a school of contrasts. It combines a stunning modern building and a deeply held, nurturing Catholic ethos with academic results that are currently struggling to meet national benchmarks. Best suited to families who prioritise faith-based pastoral care and a supportive community environment over raw exam statistics. For those who stay through to the Sixth Form, the academic picture brightens significantly, offering a viable route to university in a caring setting.