Free schools · Sefton

King's Leadership Academy Hawthornes

11–16Ages
708Pupils
SecondaryPhase
138260URN

Fernhill Road, Bootle, L20 6AQ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Sep 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.4per place

0.9 below Sefton median (2.3)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Sefton

232 applications for 167 places · 18th of 18 in Sefton

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

35.7of 90

Sefton 42.9 England 46.0

17th of 18 in Sefton

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 27 September 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good

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

1.4applications per place, Year 7

0.9 below Sefton median (2.3) 0.8 below England median (2.2)

232 applications · 167 places offered · 130 named it first

2026 1.4; Sefton median median 2.3
2025 1.6; Sefton median median 2.3
2024 1.5; Sefton median median 2.2
2023 1.5; Sefton median median 2.1
2022 1.3; Sefton median median 2.1
2021 1.3; Sefton median median 2.1
2020 1.3; Sefton median median 2.0
2019 1.3; Sefton median median 2.1
2018 1.6; Sefton median median 1.9
2017 1.8; Sefton median median 1.9
2016 2.1; Sefton median median 2.0
2015 2.0; Sefton median median 2.0
2014 2.1; Sefton median median 2.1

More applications per place than the Sefton median in 1 of 13 years.

This school
Sefton 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.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	167	232	1.4	130	0.78
Sep 2025	165	268	1.6	151	0.92
Sep 2024	139	208	1.5	114	0.82
Sep 2023	139	214	1.5	145	1.04
Sep 2022	129	166	1.3	96	0.74
Sep 2021	119	156	1.3	99	0.83
Sep 2020	107	135	1.3	75	0.70
Sep 2019	86	111	1.3	56	0.65
Sep 2018	53	82	1.6	36	0.68
Sep 2017	58	106	1.8	40	0.69
Sep 2016	32	66	2.1	28	0.88
Sep 2015	42	82	2.0	40	0.95
Sep 2014	63	131	2.1	53	0.84

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

123 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)35.717th of 18 in Sefton

Sefton 42.9 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths17%17th of 18 in Sefton

Sefton 40% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths39%

Sefton 60% England 66%

This school
Sefton median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.57

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	123	35.7	17%	39%	–
2024/25	106	32.2	17%	35%	–
2023/24	104	33.4	21%	40%	−0.57
2022/23	64	31.4	11%	31%	−0.56

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

King's Leadership Academy HawthornesThis school
This school

Good2023

1.4applications per place 35.7Attainment 8
The Salesian Academy of St John Bosco
1.4 km · Sefton

Special measures 2026

1.9applications per place 34.2Attainment 8
Hillside High School
1.7 km · Sefton

Good2023

3.0applications per place 39.1Attainment 8
Litherland High School
1.9 km · Sefton

Good2024

1.9applications per place 37.2Attainment 8
Archbishop Beck Catholic College
2.1 km · Liverpool

2026

3.9applications per place 39.9Attainment 8
Alsop High School
2.2 km · Liverpool

Requires significant improvement 2026

1.2applications per place 33.1Attainment 8
Chesterfield High School
3.5 km · Sefton

Remains Good2023

2.3applications per place 48.0Attainment 8
Sacred Heart Catholic Academy
3.7 km · Sefton

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.9applications per place 44.9Attainment 8
Dixons Fazakerley Academy
3.9 km · Liverpool

Requires improvement2024

0.8applications per place 35.9Attainment 8

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: Free schools
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 138260 · 343/4000
Trust: The Great Schools Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 600 pupils · 708 on roll
Free school meals: 61.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 28 August 2012
Address: Fernhill Road, Bootle, L20 6AQ
Local authority: Sefton

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