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Academy sponsor led · St. Helens

Hope Academy

  • 11–16Ages
  • 1,235Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Church of England/Roman CatholicReligious character
  • 136421URN

Ashton Road, Newton-le-Willows, WA12 0AQ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2024 Previous framework

No overall grade given
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.6per place
0.5 below St. Helens median (2.1)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in St. Helens

289 applications for 184 places · 8th of 8 in St. Helens
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
43.9of 90
5th of 8 in St. Helens
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Graded inspection · 12 November 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationRequires improvement
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry
1.6applications per place, Year 7
0.5 below St. Helens median (2.1) 0.7 below England median (2.2)

289 applications · 184 places offered · 168 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

  1. 2026 1.6; St. Helens median median 2.1
  2. 2025 1.5; St. Helens median median 2.2
  3. 2024 1.3; St. Helens median median 1.9
  4. 2023 1.3; St. Helens median median 1.8
  5. 2022 1.4; St. Helens median median 1.7
  6. 2021 1.4; St. Helens median median 1.9
  7. 2020 1.3; St. Helens median median 2.0
  8. 2019 1.4; St. Helens median median 1.9
  9. 2018 1.3; St. Helens median median 1.9
  10. 2017 1.3; St. Helens median median 1.5
  11. 2016 1.4; St. Helens median median 1.5
  12. 2015 1.3; St. Helens median median 1.6
  13. 2014 1.3; St. Helens median median 1.6
More applications per place than the St. Helens median in 0 of 13 years.
  • This school
  • St. Helens median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20261842891.61680.91
Sep 20252213371.52201.00
Sep 20242523351.32480.98
Sep 20232723471.32560.94
Sep 20222623631.42741.05
Sep 20212683861.42701.01
Sep 20202973961.33071.03
Sep 20192974041.42981.00
Sep 20182453281.32380.97
Sep 20172292931.32140.93
Sep 20161832601.41760.96
Sep 20152012531.31760.88
Sep 20142162861.32080.96

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

243 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)43.95th of 8 in St. Helens
Grade 5 or above in English and maths40%5th of 8 in St. Helens
Grade 4 or above in English and maths56%
  • This school
  • St. Helens median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.23
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)24343.940%56%–
2024/2527443.833%57%–
2023/2428442.736%57%−0.23
2022/2323941.031%48%−0.28

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Academy sponsor led
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
136421 · 342/4803
Trust
The Liverpool Joint Catholic and Church of England Academies Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Religious character
Church of England/Roman Catholic
Capacity
1,350 pupils · 1,235 on roll
Free school meals
30.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 September 2011
Address
Ashton Road, Newton-le-Willows, WA12 0AQ
Local authority
St. Helens

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources