Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up High Demand emoji_events #42 in Liverpool public Top 53% UK

St Sebastian's Catholic Primary School and Nursery

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Jacqui Mulligan

location_onLiverpool, L7 0LH

language Visit Website phone 1512609697

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

248

school

Expected Standard

63%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

2.1x

summarize

St Sebastian's Catholic Primary School and Nursery is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Liverpool, serving ages 3-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Highly competitive: 2.1× more applications than places — plan well ahead. Ranks in the top 53% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

St Sebastian's Catholic Primary School and Nursery is a voluntary aided school in Liverpool, admitting pupils aged 3-11. The school has approximately 238 pupils on roll, of whom 38% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 63% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 6% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #42 of 105 primaries in Liverpool and #6,018 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 2.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 20.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

63%

LA 55%

Reading69% LA 68%

Writing78% LA 66%

Maths69% LA 66%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

71%

LA 55%England 61%

Reading87% LA 69% · Eng 74%

Writing90% LA 67% · Eng 72%

Maths81% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

110

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

84%

LA 53%England 60%

Reading90% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Writing90% LA 65% · Eng 71%

Maths87% LA 65% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

6.0

Read

LA -0.3

3.8 to 8.2

6.2

Write

LA 0.3

4.1 to 8.4

3.8

Maths

LA -0.5

1.7 to 5.9

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

90%

LA 59%England 65%

Reading100% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Writing90% LA 71% · Eng 78%

Maths97% LA 73% · Eng 79%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

111

Progress (0 = national avg)

5.8

Read

LA 0.3

3.5 to 8.1

2.8

Write

LA 0.3

0.7 to 5.0

4.3

Maths

LA 0.2

2.3 to 6.3

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

83%

LA 59%

Reading93% LA 70%

Writing90% LA 72%

Maths97% LA 71%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

110

GPS SS

113

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA 0.0

-0.3 to 4.3

-0.4

Write

LA 0.1

-2.6 to 1.8

3.6

Maths

LA 0.3

1.6 to 5.6

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

03 December 2024

Inspection Report

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04 November 2020

Inspection Report

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20 January 2015

Inspection Report

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07 January 2011

Inspection Report

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30 September 2008

Inspection Report

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03 April 2008

Inspection Report

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17 May 2004

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-12-03

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2015-01-20

Exempt School Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2008-04-03

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 238 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	238	0	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	231	0	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	258	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	242	3	1.2%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	237	0	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	250	2	0.8%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	248	0	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	241	0	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	237	1	0.4%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	237	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	236	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	248	1	0.4%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	241	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	239	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	265	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	265	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	252	1	0.4%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	266	1	0.4%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	265	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	254	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	261	3	1.1%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	254	1	0.4%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	245	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	260	8	3.1%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	261	1	0.4%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	254	4	1.6%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 20 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 13 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 9 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

98.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

100.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

18.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree64%

agree33%

disagree2%

don't know2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree59%

agree33%

disagree5%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree35%

agree21%

disagree6%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

not applicable33%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes17%

no83%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree27%

agree36%

disagree9%

strongly disagree27%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree55%

agree33%

strongly disagree3%

don't know9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree59%

agree33%

disagree5%

strongly disagree3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree45%

agree36%

disagree14%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree56%

agree41%

disagree2%

don't know2%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree67%

agree30%

disagree3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree44%

agree39%

disagree8%

strongly disagree3%

don't know6%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes91%

no9%

Top Primary Schools in Liverpool

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Sudley Primary School

N/A

location_on Liverpool, L17 6BH

emoji_events #1 in LA

Four Oaks Community Primary School

Requires improvement

location_on Liverpool, L5 1XP

emoji_events #2 in LA

Woolton Primary School

Good

location_on Liverpool, L25 5NN

emoji_events #3 in LA

Garston Church of England Primary School

Good

location_on Liverpool, L19 5NS

emoji_events #4 in LA

St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary and Nursery School

Good

location_on Liverpool, L13 2BA

emoji_events #5 in LA

Whitefield Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Liverpool, L6 2HZ

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Liverpool arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Liverpool

Sudley Primary School

Four Oaks Community Primary School

Woolton Primary School

Garston Church of England Primary School

St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary and Nursery School

Whitefield Primary School