St John Bosco Arts College Review 2026: A Creative Catholic Community

Located in Croxteth, St John Bosco Arts College (or 'Bosco' as it is locally known) is a Catholic comprehensive for girls that serves its community with distinct Salesian warmth. Housed in a striking £18 million building opened in 2014, the architecture—centred around a tiered seating area known as 'The Hill'—reflects the school's focus on performance and community. With 1.6 applications for every place, it is a popular choice for local families, combining a 'Good' Ofsted rating with a deep commitment to the arts and pastoral care.

The atmosphere is defined by the Salesian ethos of St John Bosco: "It is not enough for young people to be loved, they must know that they are loved." This translates into a highly supportive environment where relationships between staff and students are warm. Mr Darren Gidman, Headteacher since 2015, leads with a focus on this pastoral strength, ensuring the large modern campus feels like a close-knit community.

Physically, the school is bold. The open-plan 'super-studios' and glass-walled classrooms signal a departure from Victorian corridors, aiming to foster independence. The heart of the school is the central atrium, which doubles as a performance space, constantly reminding visitors of the Arts College specialism. Students wear their distinctive purple blazers with pride, and the behaviour is typically described by visitors as calm and respectful, rooted in the school's mission to "inspire each other to flourish in faith, hope and love".

In 2024, the school's academic performance reflected a mixed picture typical of many non-selective schools serving diverse catchments. The Progress 8 score of -0.47 indicates that students, on average, made less progress from their starting points than their peers nationally.

Ranked 2736th in England and 22nd in Liverpool for GCSE outcomes, performance sits in the national typical band (FindMySchool ranking).

At A-level, results show pockets of promise, particularly given the inclusive sixth form. Ranked 2097th in England and 30th in Liverpool for A-level outcomes, the college consistently supports students onto university pathways (FindMySchool ranking). While top grades are harder to come by—with 33% of grades at A*-B—the school excels in ensuring students complete their courses and reach positive destinations.

The curriculum is broad but retains a powerful commitment to the arts, resisting the national trend to narrow subject choices. Dance, Drama, and Music are not just bolt-ons but central pillars of the school week.

Teaching in the 'super-studios' requires a specific pedagogical approach; lessons are often collaborative, utilising the flexible space. Science facilities are modern, and the school has invested in digital technology to support learning. Religious Education is core to the curriculum, taken by all students to GCSE, reflecting the Catholic character.

University progression is a strength. In 2024, 63% of leavers progressed to university, a healthy figure for the sector. While most students choose local universities in the North West, aspirations are rising.

The academic potential of the most able students is nurtured carefully; in 2024, from a small cohort of seven Oxbridge applicants, one student secured a place at Cambridge. This success highlights that while the overall data is modest, the ceiling for individual talent is high.

St John Bosco is a popular school. In 2024, there were 331 applications for 206 places, resulting in an oversubscription ratio of 1.6. With 1.07 first preferences for every offer, many local families make this their undisputed first choice.

Entry is coordinated by Liverpool City Council. As a Catholic school, priority is given to baptised Catholic girls, followed by other girls. A Supplementary Faith Form is required for those applying under faith criteria. The catchment area effectively radiates from the school in Norris Green, but the specific distance cutoff varies annually based on applicant density.

Parents should use the FindMySchoolMap Search to check their precise distance from the school gates compared to previous cutoffs.

Pastoral care is the school's "superpower", underpinned by the unwavering Salesian philosophy. The school is organised into houses named after inspirational women, fostering a sense of belonging. The 'GIFT' (Growing In Faith Together) chaplaincy team is highly active, providing peer support and organising retreats.

Support for students with SEND is well-integrated, with the open-plan nature of the building actually aiding accessibility for those with physical needs, though some students with sensory sensitivities may find the open acoustics challenging.

The extracurricular menu is dominated, unsurprisingly, by the arts.

The Arts

The annual school production is a professional-standard event, involving hundreds of girls in cast and crew. The Dance Company competes regionally, and the Choir performs regularly at the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Leadership

The 'Bosco Sisters' programme encourages older students to mentor Year 7s, and the school runs a successful Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

Trips are frequent, ranging from theatre visits in Liverpool to pilgrimages to Lourdes, reinforcing the spiritual life of the college.

The school day runs from 8:45am to 3:05pm. Located on Storrington Avenue, the school is well-served by local bus routes connecting to the city centre and surrounding suburbs.

• Open-plan learning: The modern 'plaza' style classrooms look impressive but are not for everyone. Girls who need absolute silence to focus may find the visual and acoustic openness distracting compared to traditional four-walled classrooms.
• Faith commitment: This is a devoutly Catholic school. Prayer, liturgy, and masses are part of the fabric of daily life. Families of other faiths or none are welcome but must be comfortable with this pervasive ethos.
• Progress data: The negative Progress 8 score suggests that, statistically, students achieve slightly lower grades than might be expected from their primary school scores. Parents focusing purely on league tables may find this a concern, though the school argues its holistic value added is not captured by this metric alone.

St John Bosco Arts College is a school with a massive heart, housed in a building that looks to the future. It resists the exam-factory model in favour of a holistic, faith-filled education that prioritises wellbeing and the arts. Best suited to girls who will thrive in a warm, high-energy, and visually open environment, and for whom being known and loved is as important as their GCSE grades. The main challenge is securing a place in this oversubscribed community.