King's Leadership Academy Hawthornes Review 2026: Values-led secondary with improving reputation

In Bootle, this is a school built around a clear behavioural and character framework, with ASPIRE values sitting at the centre of day-to-day routines. That clarity matters because the intake is changeable, with many pupils joining part-way through their secondary education. The most recent full inspection graded the school Good across all judgement areas, and also points to a culture where pupils settle quickly, behaviour is generally calm in lessons, and staff expectations are clear.

Academically, the school’s GCSE outcomes sit below England average on the available measures, with Progress 8 at -0.57 and an Attainment 8 score of 33.4. In FindMySchool’s GCSE ranking (based on official data), it ranks 3,366th in England and 1st in Sefton, a combination that reflects both local context and the scale of national competition. For families, the practical reading is straightforward, the school’s current trajectory and systems may feel more positive than the headline performance measures suggest, but it is still an option where improvement, consistency and attendance remain central issues to weigh carefully.

Leadership has also shifted since the last full inspection. The current principal is Mrs Andrea St John, while the September 2023 report names Peter Gaul as principal at that time.

A values system is only useful if pupils actually use it. Here, the ASPIRE language is embedded into the school’s expectations for conduct and participation, which helps create consistency across lessons and corridors. The latest inspection describes pupils responding quickly and politely to staff direction, and lessons largely running without interruption. That is an important foundation for a school that has historically needed to stabilise standards, and it also provides reassurance for families who are prioritising calm routines over a “trial and error” behaviour approach.

There is also a clear sense that the school is working to be more outward-facing and rooted in its local community. Official commentary links pupil recruitment to an improving reputation locally, and it highlights that new arrivals often settle quickly and integrate into routines. In practice, that usually points to well-rehearsed induction, simple systems, and a staff culture that does not treat mid-year joiners as an inconvenience.

The school’s history explains some of its identity. It opened as a free school in September 2012, then joined The Great Schools Trust in September 2015. That trust context matters because curriculum design, staff development and governance support are often shaped at trust level, particularly for schools that have had to strengthen curriculum coverage and consistency over time.

The available GCSE indicators point to performance below England average overall, with specific strengths more likely to sit at subject level than across-the-board. Progress 8 is -0.57, which indicates pupils, on average, make less progress than similar pupils nationally from their starting points. Attainment 8 is 33.4. In the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) measures shown, the school’s average EBacc APS is 3.14, with 13.5% achieving grades 5 or above across the EBacc.

FindMySchool’s GCSE ranking places the school 3,366th in England, and 1st within Sefton, and it sits below England average overall, within the bottom 40% of schools nationally on this ranking measure. These are FindMySchool proprietary rankings based on official data, designed for side-by-side comparison of outcomes across England.

The implication for parents is less about a single number and more about what the school is prioritising to shift those numbers. The latest inspection describes a curriculum now meeting national curriculum requirements across year groups, identifying crucial knowledge and key vocabulary, and being taught in a logical sequence that helps pupils build connections over time. That kind of structured curriculum work is typically one of the prerequisites for sustained improvement, but it takes time for consistency to translate into results, especially where attendance is not yet secure for all pupils.

If you are comparing local options, the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool can help you benchmark outcomes, admissions pressure and inspection history alongside nearby alternatives, using the same dataset and methodology.

Curriculum structure is a major theme in the latest official commentary, and the picture is largely positive. The school has made curriculum design more deliberate, with clearly specified knowledge and vocabulary, and sequencing that helps pupils build learning over time. For families, the benefit is tangible. A well-sequenced curriculum usually means fewer gaps between classes and year groups, clearer expectations for what pupils should remember, and more consistent teaching for pupils who move between sets or join mid-year.

Assessment is used frequently to check understanding, and in most subjects it is being used to identify and address gaps. The important caveat is that this is not yet consistent across all subjects, with a small number not adapting teaching effectively enough to embed missing knowledge. This matters because it can create a familiar pattern, pupils can appear to cope in the short term, then struggle later when learning depends on earlier foundations. It also helps explain why a school can feel more orderly and purposeful day-to-day while outcomes are still catching up.

Reading support is highlighted as a practical priority. Pupils who are at an earlier stage of reading are identified quickly and supported to improve fluency, with opportunities to read across the curriculum. In a secondary setting, this kind of targeted reading work is often the difference between accessing the full curriculum and falling behind in multiple subjects at once.

With an 11 to 16 age range, the key question is progression post-16 and the quality of preparation for vocational, sixth form and college routes. The most recent inspection commentary indicates the school has a well-considered careers programme that informs pupils and parents about the range of courses and careers available, and it reports that increasing numbers of pupils are continuing their studies after they leave.

That statement is meaningful, but families may still want specifics at open events, such as how option choices are supported in Year 9, what employer encounters look like, and whether pupils get structured guidance on college applications, apprenticeships and sixth-form entry requirements. For pupils who need a clear plan and regular checkpoints, careers education is most effective when it is timetabled, repeated across year groups, and linked to real destinations and application milestones rather than being delivered as occasional assemblies.

Admissions are coordinated through Sefton, with an admission number of 130 for the 2026 intake. The oversubscription criteria follow a familiar hierarchy: looked-after and previously looked-after children; siblings; children of staff (with a two-year employment condition); a named contributory primary route; then distance as the tie-break, measured by shortest walking distance to the nearest school gate using routes recognised by the local authority.

The local authority’s published figures show that the school has admitted above its published admission number in recent allocation rounds. In the 2025 round, 279 applications were received by the closing date, with 170 places available in the published table for that year, and the furthest distance offered is recorded as 1.665 miles. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

For families trying to assess realistic chances, distance is only useful if measured precisely and compared to the most recent allocation data. The FindMySchoolMap Search tool can help you check your home-to-school distance consistently and keep your shortlist grounded in actual allocation patterns.

Applications for the 2026 intake follow the national timetable, with the published national closing date shown as 31 October 2025 for secondary applications within Sefton’s admissions guide.

The strongest reassurance in the most recent inspection commentary is the combination of clear expectations and generally positive pupil conduct. Pupils know what is expected and respond quickly to staff direction; movement around school is described as calm and purposeful. Where behaviour is predictable, pastoral systems can focus less on firefighting and more on attendance, relationships, and early intervention for pupils who are starting to disengage.

Attendance remains a priority issue. Official commentary recognises improvement, while also noting that some pupils still do not attend regularly enough. For families, this is worth probing directly because the practical impact of weak attendance is not just academic. It can affect friendship stability, group culture, and the overall learning pace in classrooms.

The school also appears to have a relatively high proportion of pupils with special educational needs and or disabilities, and it is described as supporting these pupils to engage with the curriculum and obtain the qualifications they need. The key implication is that inclusion is framed through access to the mainstream curriculum rather than a separate track. Parents of pupils with additional needs should ask how this works in practice, for example, what classroom adaptations are typical, how literacy support is integrated, and how pastoral leaders manage transitions for pupils arriving mid-year.

The school’s enrichment offer is not described in generic terms in official commentary, which is a good sign. The latest inspection highlights debating, documentary and baking clubs as part of the enrichment programme, and it describes pupils taking on leadership roles through being members of the Combined Cadet Force and serving as prefects.

Those examples reveal something specific about the school’s character priorities. Debating and documentary clubs tend to reward confidence with language, critical thinking and curiosity about current affairs and ideas. Baking is often a strong fit for pupils who engage best through structured practical tasks with visible outcomes. Combined Cadet Force adds a different dimension, routine, discipline, teamwork, and a strong sense of responsibility. In a school built around values and conduct, these activities are not just add-ons; they reinforce the same expectations in a different setting, which can be particularly effective for pupils who need repeated practice in self-management and collaboration.

A useful way to judge the real strength of extracurricular life is participation rather than a long list. Families should ask what proportion of pupils take part weekly, how the school supports pupils who are new mid-year to join clubs quickly, and whether transport home affects access for pupils living further away.

This is a state secondary school for students aged 11 to 16 in Bootle, within Sefton. The published information available through official sources focuses more on admissions arrangements and school systems than on day-to-day timing details. Families should confirm the current school day structure, breakfast or after-school provision (if any), and transport arrangements directly with the school when planning routines.

For travel planning, Bootle is well served by public transport within the Liverpool City Region, including rail stations and frequent bus routes on main corridors. For students travelling independently, families should prioritise a route that is consistent year-round and safe in winter months, even if it is not the absolute quickest.

• Outcomes still lag systems. The school has strengthened curriculum design and day-to-day expectations, but the available GCSE outcome measures and Progress 8 remain below England average. This can suit families who value a stable culture and can support learning at home, but it may frustrate those seeking consistently strong academic outcomes across all subjects.

• Attendance is a live issue. Official commentary recognises improvement, but also notes that some pupils still do not attend regularly. Irregular attendance can affect classroom pace and peer dynamics, so families should ask how attendance is monitored and what early help looks like.

• Variability across subjects. Assessment practice is strong in many areas, but not fully consistent. For students who need highly structured support in specific subjects, it is worth asking how intervention is targeted and how quickly gaps are addressed.

• Admission distance shifts year to year. The furthest distance offered in the 2025 round is recorded as 1.665 miles. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

King’s Leadership Academy Hawthornes is a school where values, routines and personal development have been deliberately positioned as drivers of improvement, not side projects. The most recent inspection supports a picture of calmer behaviour, clearer expectations and a curriculum that has been strengthened to meet national requirements, while performance measures indicate the academic journey is still in progress.

It best suits families who want a structured culture with clear conduct expectations, and who are prepared to engage closely with attendance, routines and learning habits. The main decision point is whether the school’s improvement trajectory and character framework outweigh the current academic indicators for your child’s needs.