St Hilda's Church of England High School Review 2026: A Modern Faith School in Sefton Park

St Hilda's Church of England High School occupies a striking modern campus on the edge of Sefton Park. The £15 million glass-fronted building, opened in 2015, speaks to the future, but the school's roots in the Liverpool community run deep. It serves as a highly sought-after destination for families across the city, attracting over 1,200 applications for just 170 places in the recent entry cycle.

This is a Voluntary Aided comprehensive school where faith is the foundation. The ethos is built around five core values: Wisdom, Hope, Community, Dignity, and Equality. Under the leadership of Mrs Jo Code, the school has maintained a reputation for being inclusive yet academically driven. It remains the only Church of England secondary school in Liverpool, creating a unique draw for families seeking a Christian education within the state sector.

At drop-off, the gates on Croxteth Drive reveal a student body that is diverse and purposeful. The move to the new building transformed the daily experience here. Gone are the narrow corridors of the old site; in their place are light-filled atriums and open learning zones that feel closer to a university faculty than a traditional school. The atmosphere is calm, aided by the wide circulation spaces and clear expectations regarding conduct.

The Christian character is visible but welcoming. While the cross is displayed and worship is integral, the intake includes students of other faiths and none. The school operates a strong house system (including Brodie, Roscoe, Aspinall, Walker, and Wilkinson) which breaks the large cohort down into smaller families. Inter-house competitions, from sport to debating, generate significant noise and loyalty.

Pupils describe the environment as supportive but busy. With such high demand for places, the school is full, yet the modern design manages the flow of 1,000+ students effectively. The "family lunch" system, where students eat together, reinforces the community value that leadership emphasises constantly.

St Hilda's delivers solid academic outcomes that sit comfortably within the national context. In 2024, the school's GCSE performance ranked it 1,817th in England. This places the school in the "national typical" band, reflecting performance in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile).

Locally, the school holds a strong position, ranking 13th among secondary providers in Liverpool for GCSEs. The metrics show an Average Attainment 8 score of 49.4, which exceeds the England average of 45.9. This suggests that students generally achieve higher grades across their eight best subjects than their peers nationally.

The percentage of pupils achieving Grade 5 or above in English and Maths is a key indicator of foundational strength. While the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) entry rate is 40.5%, the focus remains on ensuring students secure pass grades in core subjects. The Progress 8 score of -0.3 indicates that, on average, students make slightly less progress from their primary school starting points compared to national benchmarks, although attainment remains high.

The curriculum is broad and follows the National Curriculum with distinct emphasis on religious literacy and core skills. Teaching follows a "St Hilda's Way" structure, ensuring consistency across departments. Lessons typically begin with "Do It Now" tasks to settle students immediately.

The move to the new site provided state-of-the-art facilities for Science and Technology. There are specialist science laboratories where practical work is frequent. Design Technology workshops are equipped with modern CAD/CAM facilities, allowing students to produce high-quality prototypes.

Religious Education is a core subject for all students, reflecting the school's designation. It is treated with academic rigour, and all students sit the full GCSE. This is not merely confessional; students engage with philosophy, ethics, and world religions, developing critical thinking skills that serve them across the curriculum.

The Sixth Form is a distinct strength, attracting students from St Hilda's own Year 11 and external applicants from across Liverpool. In 2024, A-level results ranked 1,810th in England. This places the provider in the "national lower" band compared to all centres (including private colleges), but locally it ranks 24th in Liverpool.

Top grades are hard-won but achievable. In 2024, nearly 40% of grades were A*-B (39.21%), with 11.45% at A. The curriculum offers over 20 A-level subjects, plus BTEC options in Business and Health & Social Care. The Sixth Form centre has its own study areas and cafe, giving older students a sense of independence and privilege.

Destinations data highlights a strong university culture. For the 2024 cohort, 60% of leavers progressed to university, a healthy figure for a state comprehensive.

The school maintains a pathway to elite institutions for its most able students. In the most recent cycle, the school recorded 1 successful Oxbridge acceptance to Cambridge, from 2 applications. This demonstrates that for the most academic students, the ceiling is high.

Beyond university, the school supports vocational pathways effectively. 8% of leavers moved into apprenticeships, and 16% entered employment directly. The careers team works closely with local businesses to secure meaningful work experience, particularly for Year 12 students.

Admissions are coordinated by Liverpool City Council, but the process is fierce. St Hilda's is consistently one of the most oversubscribed schools in the city. In the recent entry cycle, the school received over 1,200 applications for just 170 places. This results in a subscription ratio of over 7 applications per place.

The admissions policy operates on a dual criteria system:

1. Christian Places (50%): Allocated to children whose parents are faithful and regular worshippers at a Christian church. Evidence is required via a Supplementary Information Form (SIF).
2. Open Places (50%): Allocated without reference to faith. These are assigned primarily based on distance from the school.

With such high demand, the "last distance offered" for Open places can be extremely tight. Parents relying on the distance criterion must live in close proximity to the Sefton Park site. The school also admits students with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) where the school is named.

Parents must complete the Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF) and, if applying for a faith place, the school's SIF. The deadline is 31 October for entry the following September.

Pastoral care is structured around the House system, but the "Form Tutor" remains the key figure in a student's daily life. The school prides itself on being a "telling school," where students are encouraged to voice concerns about bullying or wellbeing immediately.

A full-time chaplain supports the spiritual and emotional life of the school. The chaplaincy is not just for the religious; it provides a listening ear for any student in crisis. There is also a dedicated Student Services team that handles day-to-day welfare issues, ensuring teachers can focus on teaching while students receive the support they need.

The school holds the "Rainbow Flag Award," reflecting a commitment to inclusion and support for LGBT+ students, balancing its Church of England identity with a modern, inclusive pastoral approach.

Extracurricular life is vibrant, with Music standing out as a major pillar. The school choir performs regularly at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral and community events. There are numerous ensembles, including a brass band and a soul band, supported by peripatetic tutors.

Sport benefits from the modern sports hall and outdoor multi-use games area (MUGA). While the site is somewhat constrained by its urban location, the school makes effective use of Sefton Park for cross-country and athletics. Netball, football, and badminton are popular competitive sports.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a rite of passage for many, with large cohorts completing Bronze and Silver awards. The school also runs a popular debate club and participates in the Liverpool Schools' Parliament.

This is a state-funded school, meaning there are no tuition fees for students aged 11 to 19. Education is free at the point of delivery.

However, parents should budget for specific costs associated with school life. The specific uniform policy (blazer, house tie, PE kit) requires purchase from approved suppliers, although a pre-loved uniform shop is available to support families. Other costs include music tuition for peripatetic lessons and voluntary contributions for residential trips or the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

The school day begins at 8:40am and finishes at 3:10pm. The location near Sefton Park means it is well-served by public transport, with many students travelling by bus from across South Liverpool. St Michaels is the nearest Merseyrail station, roughly a 15-20 minute walk away.

There is no dedicated school bus service, so students rely on public routes. Uniform is strictly enforced: a blazer, house tie, and specific skirt or trousers.

Intense Competition: With over seven applicants for every place, securing a spot is the primary challenge. Families applying for Open places must be realistic about their distance from the school. Those applying for Faith places must ensure their attendance evidence is watertight.

Urban Campus: While the building is new and impressive, the outdoor space is compact compared to suburban schools with sprawling fields. The school utilises nearby public spaces to mitigate this, but on-site green space is limited.

Faith Expectation: While inclusive, this is a Church school. Students are expected to attend collective worship and take GCSE Religious Studies. Families uncomfortable with a distinct Christian ethos woven into daily life should consider whether this is the right fit.

St Hilda's offers a compelling blend of modern facilities and traditional values. It provides a safe, structured, and aspirational environment where the "whole child" is genuinely prioritised alongside exam grades. Best suited to families who value a faith-based education and want a school with a strong community feel. The main challenge is securing a place in one of Liverpool's most popular schools.