SchoolScoresBishop David Sheppard CofE Primary School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
Devonshire Road, Southport, PR9 7BZ
01704 227987 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 18 May 2023.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
31 pupils in this year group.
42% — 16 points below the Sefton average, and 20 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Sefton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 42% | 58% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 61% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 55% | 69% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 48% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 100 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Sefton. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 16 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 16 |
| Of those, offered a place | 16 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 26 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has a SEN unit with 16 places for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Sefton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 1st highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Higher than 88% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 47.3% | 26.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Higher than 92% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.2% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Higher than 85% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.1% | 16.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Higher than 63% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.8% | 8.6%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 19th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Lower than 15% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.6% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 19th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Lower than 14% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 20.0% | 13.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 20th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Lower than 15% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 5.3 | 1.4 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 20th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Lower than 20% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.9% | 0.7% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 17th highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Higher than 19% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 17.5 | 20.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 21st highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Higher than 4% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 6.8 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Higher than 83% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 24.8% | 11.3%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Norwood Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holy Family Catholic Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Churchtown Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Patrick's Catholic Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Larkfield Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Philip's CofE Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, Southport 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kew Woods Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- Marshside Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Linaker Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Bishop David Sheppard CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Bishop David Sheppard CofE Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 18 May 2023.
How did Bishop David Sheppard CofE Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 42% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 20 points below the England average of 62%.
Is Bishop David Sheppard CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 16 families put Bishop David Sheppard CofE Primary School as their first choice for 16 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 16 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 104942.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.