Calderstones School

Community school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Harthill Road, Allerton, Liverpool, L18 3HS

0151 724 2087 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 24 January 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths43%England 45% · 2024/25
15th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Higher than 49% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,592Room for 1,543 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,453 in 2019, 1,529 in 2021, 1,546 in 2022, 1,552 in 2023, 1,597 in 2024, 1,575 in 2025, 1,592 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.5375 for 258 places, September 2026
8th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Higher than 92% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 24 January 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

263 pupils in this year group.

43% — 5 points above the Liverpool average, and 2 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLiverpoolEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 43% 38% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 46.1 42.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.3 3.6 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 45%This school 2023/24: 36%This school 2024/25: 43% This school England 45% 2022/23 45% 2023/24 36% 2024/25 43%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

258 pupils in this year group.

91% — 3 points above the Liverpool average, and about the same as the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 55%28%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolLiverpoolEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 91% 88% 92%
School sixth form 55% 46% 34%
Sixth form college 2% 5% 13%
Further education college 28% 30% 37%
Apprenticeship 4% 3% 3%
Work 2% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
92%91%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

119 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolLiverpoolEngland
Average A level grade C+ C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 20% 27% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 45% 52% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 32.4 34.1 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 28.8This school 2023/24: 30.1This school 2024/25: 32.4 This school England 35 2022/23 28.8 2023/24 30.1 2024/25 32.4

A level subjects, 2024/25

23 subjects, 348 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Biology 36 0% 14% 27%
Psychology 35 0% 9% 19%
Mathematics 32 13% 44% 40%
Sociology 31 13% 26% 20%
Business Studies:Single 26 4% 4% 16%
English Language 24 0% 17% 13%
Chemistry 22 5% 9% 30%
Economics 20 0% 30% 26%
Geography 15 7% 20% 23%
History 15 0% 27% 23%
Physics 15 13% 33% 31%
English Literature 13 0% 0% 23%
Government and Politics 13 23% 23% 26%
Computer Studies / Computing 9 0% 0% 24%
Mathematics (Further) 8 25% 38% 59%
Physical Education / Sports Studies 8 0% 0% 17%
Logic / Philosophy 6 0% 0% 19%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design, Spanish, Music, French, Italian, Portuguese.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

98 students in this year group.

83% — 4 points above the Liverpool average, and 4 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLiverpoolEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 83% 79% 79%
Apprenticeship 5% 6% 7%
Work 16% 22% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
91%83%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

100 students in this year group.

80% — 14 points above the Liverpool average, and 20 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLiverpoolEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 80% 66% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 32% 19% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
80%80%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 Liverpool. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered258
Families who put it first375
Of those, offered a place225 (60%)
Families who listed it at all1,308

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.6 · 2026: 1.5

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Liverpool

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolLiverpoolEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
35th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Higher than 36% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
21.9% 38.7%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
Joint 22nd highest of 45 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Higher than 57% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.2% 3.9%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
21st highest of 45 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Higher than 80% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
18.2% 17.4%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
25th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Higher than 44% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
10.2% 18.0%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
11th lowest of 43 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Lower than 58% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
7.9% 9.6%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
10th lowest of 43 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Lower than 60% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
21.6% 26.0%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
15th lowest of 45 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Lower than 67% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
9.0 32.9 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
11th lowest of 45 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Lower than 75% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
3.9% 10.1% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded4 pupils 0.25% 0.51% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 38th highest of 46 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Higher than 17% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
15.0 16.2 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
25th highest of 46 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Higher than 47% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.7 11.7 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
45th highest of 45 state secondary schools in Liverpool.
Higher than 3% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
3.9% 13.6%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary 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.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Calderstones School's Ofsted rating?

Calderstones School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 24 January 2023.

How did Calderstones School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 43% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 2 points below the England average of 45%.

Is Calderstones School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 375 families put Calderstones School as their first choice for 258 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 225 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.