St Francis Xavier’s Catholic Academy Review 2026, Catholic boys’ secondary with sixth form in Woolton

A long-established Liverpool Catholic school with a clear sense of tradition, now framed by an explicit improvement agenda. Founded in 1842 and described by the school as the oldest Catholic day school in England, its modern identity is shaped by both history and current priorities.

Leadership sets an ambitious tone. Mr David Hayes, an alumnus, positions the academy as “rapidly improving” and highlights the move into St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust in April 2024 as part of a wider reset.

Parents should read the numbers carefully. GCSE indicators in the latest published dataset are below England norms, and sixth form results sit below the England average band, with A-level outcomes ranked 2,076th in England and 29th in Liverpool (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). This is a school where the direction of travel matters as much as the current headline measures.

Catholic identity is central, visible, and operational rather than decorative. The school’s stated mission draws directly on John 10:10, and Catholic social teaching is referenced not just in assemblies but in subject framing, including how pupils are asked to interpret justice, dignity, and the common good in lessons.

Heritage is a real part of the school story. The school traces its beginnings to 1842, opening under Fr Francis Lythgoe, moving sites several times across the nineteenth century, and relocating to Woolton following the purchase of the High Lee Estate in 1941. For pupils, this matters because the institution has a strong sense of continuity and ritual, even as leadership emphasises change and higher expectations.

Pastoral and behaviour expectations are a recurring theme in official narratives about the school. The most recent Catholic Schools Inspectorate report describes good relationships and a culture where students understand how positive behaviour contributes to ethos, with the chapel positioned as a focal point for prayer life and chaplaincy.

At GCSE level, the current dataset shows:

• Attainment 8 score: 40

• Progress 8 score: -0.61

• EBacc average point score: 3.56 (England average: 4.08)

• Percentage achieving grades 5 or above across EBacc: 10.2%

These figures indicate that, on average, pupils have been making less progress than similar pupils nationally from their starting points, and the EBacc profile is relatively narrow, both in entries and outcomes. For parents, the practical implication is that strong routines, consistent teaching, and high-quality academic intervention are essential, especially for pupils who need structured support to close gaps.

A-level outcomes are clearer on the comparative picture. Ranked 2,076th in England and 29th in Liverpool for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the sixth form sits below the England average band. Grade distribution in the current dataset shows 25.78% at A* to B, compared with an England benchmark of 47.2% at A* to B.

This is not a “numbers tell you everything” school. However, the numbers do set expectations about the level of academic stretch families should assume, and they make it sensible to ask direct questions about subject-level performance, resit policies, and how progress is tracked across Key Stage 4 and post-16.

The curriculum language points to deliberate sequencing and consistency, with pupils expected to build knowledge over time rather than rely on last-minute exam technique. Catholic social teaching is used as a reference point in humanities work, for example, the way History covers themes such as human rights and democracy alongside specific topics like the transatlantic slave trade, Peterloo, suffragette movements, and the Holocaust. This makes the curriculum more values-driven than in many local comprehensives, and can suit pupils who respond to learning that connects content to ethical questions.

In English, enrichment is presented as part of the subject experience rather than an optional extra. Examples include Reading Club, Film Club, Debating Club, Dungeons and Dragons Club, and Writing for Pleasure, with links to theatre trips and visiting speakers. The implication for pupils is that literacy development is treated as cultural, not purely functional, which can support confidence and wider vocabulary, particularly for boys who benefit from varied routes into reading.

Post-16, the sixth form offer is positioned around both academic and applied pathways, with a published range including A-level subjects such as Mathematics and Further Mathematics, and applied options such as Criminology and Information Technology. Entry expectations vary by course, and the prospectus indicates that Level 3 study typically expects at least five GCSEs at grade 5 or above including English and Maths, with higher thresholds for certain courses such as Mathematics.

Where Students Go Next

The school does not publish a complete set of destination statistics in the available official dataset, and Oxbridge and general destinations are not available in the current figures. What can be evidenced is a structured focus on employability and progression within sixth form messaging, including work experience opportunities and practical enrichment.

A distinctive route is the SFX Football Academy offer for sixth formers. The published programme outline describes regular morning training, competitive fixtures, and additional qualifications such as FA Level 1 coaching and First Aid, alongside Level 2 or Level 3 study. For some students this creates a coherent pathway into sport-related higher education, coaching, or scholarship opportunities, while still keeping academic options open.

A sensible parent approach is to ask how progression is supported in practice: subject-by-subject guidance, UCAS support, apprenticeship guidance, and how students are helped to secure the right post-18 route if grades fluctuate.

Year 7 entry is co-ordinated through Liverpool City Council, with the standard local timetable applying. Applications open on 01 September 2025 and the closing date for Year 7 entry in September 2026 is 31 October 2025. National Offer Day is 02 March 2026.

As a Catholic school, the faith element is operational in admissions. Families who want their application considered under Catholic criteria are expected to complete a supplementary form and provide supporting evidence such as sacramental certificates or a letter from an appropriate faith leader. Families without a Catholic background can still apply, and the admissions policy states that this does not affect their right to be considered.

The published admissions policy for September 2026 sets an admission number of 180. For parents, that number is important because it clarifies year-group size assumptions and the scale of competition for places if demand is strong.

Sixth form admissions appear to be primarily internal, with the school stating that external applicant numbers vary year to year and, in the most recently posted figures, were very limited. Families considering a post-16 move should treat this as a signal to enquire early, especially for specific subject combinations.

Practical tip: if your priority is proximity, use FindMySchoolMap Search to measure from your front door to the school gate, then compare that with the last distance offered when published for your cohort year.

Pastoral support blends standard safeguarding structures with explicitly Catholic pastoral language. The school chaplaincy describes its role as a supportive presence that promotes belonging and connectedness, which can matter for pupils who benefit from known adults and consistent routines.

In earlier official inspection commentary for the predecessor school, pupils reported feeling safe and described a culture where concerns were listened to, with a specific mental health and wellbeing programme referenced alongside clubs and activities. This matters because, in schools working to improve outcomes, reliable safeguarding and behaviour routines are the foundations for learning time and classroom calm.

Families weighing up suitability should ask about how behaviour expectations are applied across departments, what happens when a pupil falls behind in core subjects, and how the school works with parents when attendance or conduct becomes a barrier to progress.

The best evidence of extracurricular breadth comes from a mix of curriculum pages and earlier inspection reporting. In English alone, enrichment options listed include Reading Club, Film Club, Debating Club, Dungeons and Dragons Club, and Writing for Pleasure, plus theatre trips and academic visits. For a boy who needs a hook into reading or speaking confidence, that variety can be the difference between “compliance” and genuine engagement.

A prior inspection report for the predecessor school also referenced clubs such as chess, badminton, and music technology, alongside a wellbeing programme, which suggests that enrichment has been treated as part of student experience for some time rather than a recent add-on.

The sixth form layer adds a more vocational or career-facing strand. The SFX Football Academy programme, with structured training and competition alongside qualifications, sits alongside wider sixth form opportunities such as work experience and chaplaincy involvement. For students who learn best when academic work is tied to an identity, team, or goal, this can provide a strong organising structure for the week.

The published school day runs from 8.45am to 3.10pm across the week, with an early structured period before lessons.

Transport is relatively straightforward for many Liverpool families. The school notes nearby bus stops on Woolton Hill Road and services including the 78, 75, 81, and 81A. Parking expectations are clearly stated, with an emphasis on safety at the end of the day and avoiding stopping on restricted markings.

Term dates are published well ahead, including an outline for 2026 to 2027, which helps working parents plan around inset days and holiday weeks.

• Academic outcomes are currently below England norms. A Progress 8 score of -0.61 and relatively low A-level A* to B proportions indicate that families should ask specific questions about subject support, intervention, and how teaching consistency is secured across departments.

• Inspection context is split across organisational change. The most recent published Ofsted inspection for the predecessor school, completed in October 2021, judged the school Requires Improvement across key areas including sixth form.

• Faith-based admissions requirements add an extra step. If you want Catholic criteria applied, a supplementary form and evidence are required alongside the local authority application, which is easy to miss if you only follow the council route.

• External sixth form entry may be limited. The school indicates that external Year 12 places vary year to year and have recently been very small in number, so families planning a post-16 move should explore alternatives in parallel.

St Francis Xavier’s Catholic Academy is best understood as a school with significant heritage, clear Catholic identity, and an explicit improvement narrative, rather than a finished product on results. It will suit families who value a faith-led culture, want a boys’ setting through to 18, and are prepared to engage actively with the school on academic support and progress. For families seeking consistently strong published outcomes right now, it is important to compare options locally, and to probe how subject-level improvement is being delivered.